Beginners Beekeeping Course Lincolnshire Wolds

The Lincolnshire Wolds Honey Company are proud to offer a beginners beekeeping course that has been designed and run as a professional training programme, fully supported and structured, for people wanting to embark on a solid base in the craft and husbandry of beekeeping. With our beginners beekeeping course in Lincolnshire Wolds the support will continue even after the official training has been completed with bees, equipment and sundries.

The training we offer is based on the British Beekeepers Association beginners course, supplemented by information from the National Bee Unit and current scientific understanding (courtesy of academic literature). The beginners beekeeping course is set in the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds, in addition to the training we have a characterful historic venue and a beautiful setting.

The beekeeper delivering the beginners beekeeping course is a trained and experienced HE teacher. The course is based on small groups (not exceeding 8 people) to maximise attention and is supported by professionally produced training materials and a WhatsApp group which is available to cover any ongoing questions.

This theoretical training is supplemented by structured practical experience at our apiaries, which have been set up specifically for teaching. All beginners will conduct inspections, carry out swarm control, extract honey and prepare colonies for winter.

Finally, we are in a position to supply our learners with bees and guide you on getting equipment where you will not be fleeced. In future we are intending to be full service and have hives for sale.

Essentially, start your beekeeping confidently with the benefit of 10 years of experience…


The Lincolnshire Wolds Beginners Course in Detail;

Session 1: Introduction:

Theory: Introduction/History of bees and beekeeping, The Beekeeping Year and the Hive

Practical: Frame building and how to put the hive together, Fitting of bee suits ready for further practical work, types of hive tool, lighting a smoker and the different types of fuel.

Session 2: Bees, the colony and inspections:

Theory: The Colony, the types of bee, their lifecycle and routine inspections.

Practical: A session based around a full inspection of a colony in small groups with supervision, followed by a recap and then another inspection individually with support.

Session 3: Queens and Swarming:

Theory: A brief recap on the colony and the basic inspections moving on to Queens, their role in the hive, swarming and methods of swarm control.

Practical: Based around swarm control methods and swarm catching with a full inspection.

Session 4: Pests, Diseases & Hive products (Honey and Wax):

Theory: Pests and Diseases, Bees, Plants and Hive Products (including honey) and Getting Started in beekeeping (buying advice) along with Revision & Questions.

Practical: Honey extraction, filtering, jarring and wax rendering

Session 5: Treating for varroa and Winter Preparation.

Specific session covering winter preparation and methods of treating varroa later in the year.

Session 6: The Asian Hornet