One Day Beekeeping Course For Beginners - 2024

New for 2024 - Introduction To Beekeeping With Laurence Edwards 

Dates for 2024:

Saturday April 20th 2024 - £199 per person

Saturday May 4th 2024 - £199 per person

Interested in keeeping bees but not sure how to start? Want to know how to start keeping bees but not sure on what equipment to use? Maybe you just want to see if beekeeping is for you before spending money on a new hobby? The Introduction To Beekeeping course is for you! 

Laurence Edwards has been keeping bees for over 10 years and has made his fair share of mistakes! He has tried pretty much every technique for beehive management and trialled every single piece of equipment available in the UK. He has developed a simplistic, no nonsense approach to beehive management and he will share this with you, over the course of the day. Did I mention, he will also cook you a pizza for lunch??

The One Day Introduction To Beekeeping focusses on practical management of beehives. Laurence isn't going to sit you down in a classroom and teach you the difference between a honey bee and a drone or ask you to turn your textbook to page 12. He will focus on practical, hands on management of beehives to include the following activities:

1. How to inspect a beehive

2. How to stop bees swarming

3. When to feed your bees

4. Varroa treatment and management

5. The perfect beehive set up

6. How to set your bees up for bumper honey crops

7. How to set your bees up for overwintering success

8. A look at different manufacturers beehives/equipment and PPE

9. Mythbusters - Beekeepers Edition

10. How to light a smoker

Laurence is in an unique position in the beekeeping community. He has access to almost every single variant of beekeeping equipment available within his apiary for you use and see if they are suitable for your needs. However, as Laurence doesn't sell any equipment you can be safe in the knowledge, there is no sales pitch involved. Just straight forward, down to earth advice on what works, what doesn't, what you should avoid and where you should focus your attention.

The course runs from 10am until around 4pm in one Laurence's apiaries (as seen on YouTube).

Maximum 12 people per course

Apiaries are based within 5 miles of Mold (CH7 4EL) - exact details will be provided closer to the course.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• The course will run from 10am - 4pm. Please arrive 15 mins before the start time. There will be parking available on site
• The morning will be based on practical theory within the apiary. After lunch, will be a hands on practical session with live colonies of bees. We will supply beesuits and gloves. Please bring clean wellies.
• Please dress appropriately for the weather. There will be shelter available from the inevitable rain - it is North Wales after all :) 
• All delegates will be required to sign a disclaimer prior to entry into the apiary sessions.
• Please inform us in advance of any dietary requirements or known allergies
• Suitable for ages 16+

Your instructor for the day will be Laurence Edwards. Laurence has kept bees for over 10 years and has built up a wealth of practical information on effective beehive management. Laurence is a firm believer in learning through practical application and is only to happy to share his mistakes with you!

COURSE TIMELINE

Welcome and introductions

The day will begin with a warm welcome, introductions, tea/coffee and probably a slice of cake. 

Morning - Practical Theory Sessions (no bees)

Laurence will cover beekeeping theory using a practical philosphy. No textbooks allowed :) 

Lunch

Laurence is massive fan of FOOD. Expect home cooked pizzas, slow cooked brisket or rottiserie chicken. You will come for the bees, but stay for the food!

Afternoon - Practical Apiary Sessions (with bees)

The rest of the afternoon will be spent on the bees and testing out the huge variety of different beehives available in Laurence's apiary. 

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

All workshop confirmations and supporting information will be emailed to you, including a reminder the week before the workshop with details and directions to the apiary. 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS 

The course will go ahead regardless of the weather. We have bees under cover so you wont get too wet! 

We reserve the right to cancel the training day if there aren't sufficient attendees booked on a course. We require a minimum of 8 bookings per training day. We will confirm once the event is fully booked and if we don't reach capacity, we will advise you two weeks in advance and offer an alternative date or a full refund.  CANCELLATIONS

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer any cancellations to our beekeeping courses. We are able to move you to an alternative course up to one month before the course is due to take place.