Airedale Beekeepers Association
Ready to commit to our full course?
Our full beekeeper training course takes a practical approach to provide a good grounding in day-to-day apiary management and individual confidence in the handling of honeybees. To complete our full course, you first need to undertake ABKA's two spring introductory training sessions.
Participants receive a copy of our workbook and are partnered with a 'Bee Buddy' (an experienced beekeeper). The first season you will gain practical, hands-on experience with bees in your buddy's apiary to help you decide if you want to go further. In the second year, we support our new beekeepers to get their own bees and take three further training modules.
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We do not recommend anyone to get their own bees in Year 1. Our programme is designed to help people develop the confidence, handling and safety skills that are required before investing in equipment and setting up their own apiary in the spring of Year 2.
Our course fee is £160 which includes
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Bee Buddy sessions (at least six) in Year 1
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A copy of the ABKA training workbook
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Three training modules in Year 2
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One year’s Local membership of ABKA (starting in the autumn to cover the first season keeping your own bees).
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Access to ABKA online and in-person training and events
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Access to the ABKA Member's Only Facebook group to ask questions, share ideas and get advice from other ABKA members.
From the autumn of your first full year, your Local Membership will convert to Full Registered Membership at no extra charge. This makes you by default an affiliated member of both Yorkshire Beekeepers (YBKA) and the British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA) which includes access to training, beekeeper's insurance (for public liability, bee products and disease) and a monthly copy of the magazine BBKA News.
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Please email us to register your interest in our course.
Year 2 training modules
How to safely inspect a hive and identify anaphylaxis. How to make up frames. Honey bee health and disease recognition, treatment and prevention.
Module 1
Module 2
Preparation for getting your own bees and setting up an apiary. Set priorities for your first full season and learn to manage swarming.
Module 3
How to prepare your bees for winter. Dealing with common and exotic pests and robbing. How to manage and store equipment.