Beekeeping for Beginners

Winter Course

The typical method to learn about beekeeping with the TTVBKA is to start the year with our Winter Course, a lecture-based course that covers a broad aspect of bees and beekeeping.

The course will look at bees in general and honey bees in particular – from their anatomy through their complex social structure, their environment and their behaviours, including swarming. It will also cover bee pests and diseases and of course, no beekeeping course would be complete without talking about honey!

The Winter Course runs for eight weeks from mid-January to mid-March at our Twickenham location, with each session two hours long. It is intended for anyone who is interested in bees, particularly honey bees, even if you have no intention of becoming a beekeeper and just want to find out more about these fascinating insects. Having said that, existing beekeepers or beekeepers who are looking for a refresher can also benefit from this course.

To start enrolment for our next Winter Course, please complete this form. This course is usually oversubscribed, early enrolment is encouraged to avoid disappointment.

Beginners Course (Practical)

For those who want to continue learning how to keep honey bees we then hold a practical Beginners Course which spans the active beekeeping season (April – September). To enrol on the Beginners Course membership of the association is required.

Weekly sessions are held every Friday evening at our Twickenham training apiary where you try beekeeping for yourself. The hands-on sessions incorporate topics and techniques that mirror what a beekeeper would be required to do with their own apiary and are supported with regular talks, demonstrations and discussions. We will cover use of hive tools & equipment, safe handling of bees, swarm prevention, and Queen marking amongst many other things, with the guidance and support of experienced beekeepers.

We expect participants to come for the whole season to experience a complete cycle looking after bees, assist in extracting honey from the hive, and learn how to prepare colonies for the winter.

You can find a suggested book list suitable for those attending our Beekeeping for Beginners Courses here

For more information on our courses for beginners, please contact our membership secretary at membership@twickerbees.co.uk