If you are interested in taking up beekeeping, we usually run one full Beginners Course and a short Bee Awareness taster session each the year. There is no requirement to join St Albans & District Beekeepers Association in order to attend either one.
Beginners Course
Our Beginners Course is held in the early Spring, and gives an insight into the various aspects of beekeeping. It is designed to provide an initial learning platform for those who are looking to start keeping bees in the near future. It also explores the fascinating world of the Honey Bee for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge.
Beginners Course
Our Beginners Course is held in the early Spring, and gives an insight into the various aspects of beekeeping. It is designed to provide an initial learning platform for those who are looking to start keeping bees in the near future. It also explores the fascinating world of the Honey Bee for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge.
Beginners Course topics include:
There will many opportunities to ask questions and to meet other novice and experienced beekeepers.
The 2023 Beginners Course will be held over four evenings. 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd March.
Price is £85 per person. The course also includes a copy of the "BBKA Guide To Beekeeping" book.
The apiary session will be arranged during April subject to the weather.
Please contact training@stalbansbees.org for more information.
Bee Awareness Session 2022
The Bees Awareness Session is usually held in the Autumn, and gives a brief overview of bees and beekeeping. It is a “taster” of what is involved in becoming a beekeeper and a primer for the more detailed Beginners Course the following Spring. There is no charge for this session. You do not have to have attended the Bee Awareness Session in order to attend the Beginners Course.
The 2022 Bee Awareness evening was held on Thursday 20th October.
Please contact training@stalbansbees.org to register your interest for the 2023 session.
- Equipment, cost and time commitment needed
- The lifecycle of the Honey Bee
- Colony management
- Swarm control
- Honey extraction
- Pests & diseases
- What you can expect during your first year of beekeeping
- Advice on hive location and obtaining your first colony of bees
- A practical apiary visit for hands-on introduction to bees and the hive
There will many opportunities to ask questions and to meet other novice and experienced beekeepers.
The 2023 Beginners Course will be held over four evenings. 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd March.
Price is £85 per person. The course also includes a copy of the "BBKA Guide To Beekeeping" book.
The apiary session will be arranged during April subject to the weather.
Please contact training@stalbansbees.org for more information.
Bee Awareness Session 2022
The Bees Awareness Session is usually held in the Autumn, and gives a brief overview of bees and beekeeping. It is a “taster” of what is involved in becoming a beekeeper and a primer for the more detailed Beginners Course the following Spring. There is no charge for this session. You do not have to have attended the Bee Awareness Session in order to attend the Beginners Course.
The 2022 Bee Awareness evening was held on Thursday 20th October.
Please contact training@stalbansbees.org to register your interest for the 2023 session.
Important: Please do not simply turn up to our apiaries without first making an appointment. For safety and insurance reasons we do not allow people on site who are not members of SABKA. We are sorry, but if you visit without a prior appointment, you will be turned away.
We provide displays and exhibitions about beekeeping at a number of events through the year where you are very welcome to talk to us. Please go to our "Events" page for more details.
For further information on Membership,
please contact membership@stalbansbees.org
please contact membership@stalbansbees.org