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Hand's on learning for budding beekeepers
 

With over 25 years commercial beekeeping experience, and more than ten apiary sites throughout the Ceiriog Valley, there's no better way to learn the art and science of beekeeping than by a hand's on day with The British Bee Company.

Our training days are suitable for all abilities and expertise - from total novices, intermediate/hobby beekeepers to those wishing to experience the running of a well established, commercial beekeeping business. 

 

Topics covered will be dictated by the season, so be sure to get in touch early if there is a particular area you would like to learn about. 

 

Training days will include, but are not limited to the following areas:

 

April

 

Queen marking

Assessing the colonies

Studying colonies with AMM characteristics

Adding fresh foundation

Adding the first super

Encouraging drone production and the importance of drones in the colony

Apiary location

 

May
 

Dealing with colony expansion

Studying colonies with AMM characteristics

Adding fresh foundation

Adding supers

Looking at available forage

The spring nectar flow

Swarm control

Splitting & making up nuclei

 

June
 

Swarm control

Splitting and making up nuclei

The June gap

Building up nuclei

 

July
 

Looking for newly laying Queens

Assessing NLQs

Moving hives to forage sources

Expansion of nuclei

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Queen marking

Queen marking

Hive inspection

Hive inspection

Honeybee on a flowering currant

Honeybee on a flowering currant

Photobomb!

Photobomb!

Education in action

Education in action

Queen cells

Queen cells

If you would like to enquire about attending a training day, please get in touch via email
 

Prices from £75 for full day beekeeping course - please note that beekeeping is weather dependent. Flexibility may be required regarding the date and start time of our training.

Please bring your own quality bee suit and gloves - we find rubber gloves offer more dexterity than leather. Sturdy boots (walking boots or wellingtons) should be worn. 

 

Come prepared for hand's on learning, with your own picnic lunch including something to drink. Be mindful that during summer, things can get hot in a bee suit!

Your own transport will be required to meet to begin the day.

Once we set off you are welcome to ride in the Landy with Kirsty, however we understand some people may prefer to follow in their own vehicle. If you are doing this, please be aware we will be travelling on rural roads which are often narrow.

If you would like to make a week or weekend of it, get in touch with us and we we will be happy to give recommendations for some lovely places to stay in the valley!

 

Disclaimer: all duty and care will be taken throughout the day, but we cannot be held responsible for accidents, or adverse reaction to bee stings. Attendees will need to sign a disclaimer to take part in activities of the day.

 

Beekeeper Training

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"Each visit was an amazing experience. You can read as much as you can about bee keeping, nothing beats hands on experience from the expert. It gave me the confidence to go back to my new hives and put those new skills into practise."

— Rosemary Jones, Chirk

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"I can wholeheartedly recommend training with The British Bee Company. I spent two days with Kirsty in the beautiful Ceiriog Valley, and learnt about splitting and uniting hives, and moving hives to overwintering sites. Kirsty is very knowledgeable and is happy to share her experiences of beekeeping. I am new to beekeeping and I left the experience feeling like I had learnt a lot, and made a new friend in the process!"

— Helena Appleton, Liverpool

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