Courses

Our education officer works hard to promote the education side of our branch and encouraging our members to study for the full range of examinations and courses that the BBKA has to offer. As a result, we hope this will lead our members to be better and more knowledgeable beekeepers.

Beekeeping Courses

Photo courtesy of Samantha Nevey

We are pleased that more members of our branch have successfully passed the “BBKA Basic Assessment” in 2023. Candidates had to have kept bees for at least 12 months.

Study groups are being set up for members who wish to learn more from BBKA modules which follow on from the basic assessment. As a result, we are hopeful of more success this coming year. These study groups have proven a great way of learning therefore expanding your knowledge. The exams are optional.

Association Courses

Introduction to Beekeeping Course

Attending this Introduction to Beekeeping course which runs over two sessions on consecutive Sundays is an excellent way to get the facts you need to decide if beekeeping is for you. The course covers basic beekeeping theoretical knowledge and has one apiary session included. 

After the course we recommend everyone joins the club and attends the club apiary regularly to gain practical skills and also learn by interaction and discussion with other beekeepers.

This course is classroom based and will be followed by a practical session once the weather is warm enough to open hives in Spring 2024 at one of our club apiary sites.

The course costs £75 which includes the book ‘The BBKA Guide to Beekeeping’ (£60 without the book). 

This book is our recommended companion book for the course. We are pleased to be able to supply it at a competitive price.

IBK Course 3 – Run over 5 sessions ***NOW FULL***
Date &Time ; Tuesdays 6 -8 pm  Jan: 9th, 16th , 23rd , 30th Feb: 6th 2024
Venue : St Christophers C of E High School, Queens Rd W, Church, Accrington BB5 4AY

IBK Course 4 – Run over 2 sessions ***NOW FULL***
Date & Time : 10am – 4pm, Sunday 25th February 2024 and Sunday 3rd March 2024
Venue: 
Fence Village Hall Wheatley Cl, Fence, Burnley BB12 9QH

IBK Course 5 – Run over 2 sessions 
Date & Time : 10am – 4pm, Sunday 21st and Sunday 28th April 2024
Venue: 
Fence Village Hall Wheatley Cl, Fence, Burnley BB12 9QH

Places are allocated on a first come first served basis

You will be asked to pay by BACS if possible, or by cash / cheque on the first session of the course. You will need to be able to attend all sessions on the course you choose.

Basic Assessment Course

The Basic Beekeeping certificate is an assessment of basic practical beekeeping skills as well as basic beekeeping knowledge so it is important to attend the club apiary regularly through the spring and summer to access the practical part of the training.

To take the Basic Assessment in Beekeeping you must have managed at least one colony of bees for a minimum of 12 months and be a member of the BBKA – you are a member of BBKA if you are a member of ELBKA.

On assessment day an assessor ( an experienced beekeeper) will assess your Basic beekeeping skills by watching you open a hive and do a few other tasks. This is followed by a question/answer session.

The assessments will be arranged in the club apiaries and we hope to arrange those for dates around about the 20th July. 

The syllabus  and more information about the Basic Assessment certificate is available on the BBKA website   https://www.bbka.org.uk/basic-assessment 

BA Course 1 – Run over 6 sessions 
Date & Time : 7.30pm – 9pm Thursdays 18th April – 23rd May 2024 
Venue: 
Zoom

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Please email the association if you would like to join one of the courses.

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    For details of training being run by other branches, please click on the following link

    https://www.lancashirebeekeepers.org.uk/education

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