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2024/2025 Winter - How to be a Beekeeper   iCal entry for this event

Learn how to be a beekeeper with Leeds Beekeepers Association

For people interested in taking up Beekeeping as a hobby, Leeds Beekeepers Association offers a number of courses for beginners during 2024/2025.

All our courses cover both beekeeping theory (colony composition, swarm control, hive types, buying bees, apiary locations, getting started, etc.) and practical beekeeping, where you will be tutored whilst inspecting live colonies of bees.

As part of your fee you will become a member of Leeds Beekeepers Association (LBKA) and the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) which will include a beekeeping magazine, BBKA News, throughout the year.

All courses are led by experienced and qualified beekeepers and are designed so that participants will gain sufficient knowledge and confidence to keep their own bees.

Any child attending must be accompanied by a paying adult. 

We provide bee suits and gloves for use during the course, however, you need to bring your own footwear,. preferably wellies or similar boots to protect your ankles.

The full course dates and times are:

04/09/24 18.00 - 19.30 @ Temple Newsam - Practical inspection session

02/10/24 19:00- 21:00 @ The Newman Centre, Crossgates - The colony and the hive

06/11/24 19:00-21:00 @ The Newman Centre, Crossgates - The beekeeping year  + Products of the hive

06/12/24 19:00-21:00 @ The Newman Centre, Crossgates - Queens and swarm control

08/01/25 19:00-21:00 @ The Newman Centre, Crossgates - Making hives and frames

05/02/25 19:00-21:00 @ The Newman Centre, Crossgates - Pests and diseases

05/03/25 19:00-21:00 @ The Newman Centre, Crossgates - Getting started & transferring bees from a nuc

07/05/24 18:15-20:00 @ Temple Newsam - Practical inspection session

14/05/24 18:15-20:00 @ Temple Newsam - Practical inspection session

21/05/24 18.15-20.00 @ Temple Newsam - Practical inspection session

28/05/25 18:15-20:00 @ Temple Newsam - Practical inspection session

The dates of practical sessions are subject to appropriate weather conditions.

We can assist in supplying locally sourced and reared Yorkshire bees, we can also assist in acquiring new beekeeping equipment at fair prices. Details will be provided during the course.

 
For our refund policy click here
 
In addition to the formal courses we also meet at our apiary at Temple Newsam every Wednesday evening from April to September, after the course you are actively encouraged to simply turn up and either just "talk bees” or get veiled up and tag along with someone who is doing an inspection of the bees.
If you have any questions please email education@leedsbeekeepers.org.uk
 
Some photos from a previous Winter course
 
 Please note we do not issue tickets per se for the new beekeeper course or any of our courses (even though the confirmation email may say so) but you will receive a confirmation email upon booking, you will also be sent an email to your registered email address (that you provided on booking) closer to the time with directions, time etc.
 
An attendance list will be used on the days of the course.
 
If you have any disability, please make us aware before you attend so we can meet any special requirements if needed.
 
To ensure you receive emails and they are not directed to your Spam folder please 

 put us into your safe Contacts List as 'Leeds Beekeepers Association <lbka@webcollect.org.uk>'

Support offered during and after the course:

  • A Beginners’ book on beekeeping
  • Comprehensive course notes and presentations
  • Mentoring (at least 4 weeks) to those that purchase nucs from LBKA
  • Attendance at Weds Apiary meetings- experienced beekeepers on hand to discuss problems
  • Attendance at apiary Improver sessions throughout the Spring/Summer
  • Attendance at hive inspections on a Monday afternoon (limited by availability)
  • Encouragement and support to undertake the BBKA Basic Assessment after at least 12 months of beekeeping
 
If you would like a course Gift Certificate please ask (education@leedsbeekeepers.org.uk) and we can arrange this for you.
 

Location: Temple Newsam / Newman Centre

Contact:

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Learn how to keep honey bees 30-09-2024 18:00 19:30 closed full