“The best introductory beekeeping course in East Anglia!” Begins 1st March 2027
The aim of the course is to allow those with no previous knowledge or experience to start keeping bees. This is a very short course so, if you take it and wish to keep bees successfully, you can’t afford to miss a single session. To underpin the instruction, within reasonable limits, we offer advice and assistance afterwards.
Since most of the course will take place before bee colonies can safely be opened (April to September), it is important that, if you can, you make arrangements to look into a colony of honey bees in the season before the course starts; if it isn’t already too late in the year when you read this, we can help; please ask. I cannot emphasise too strongly that there is no substitute for opening an active colony of honey bees with an experienced beekeeper. You might try being stung too!
When and where
This year the course will run on five Monday evenings from 1st March between 7.30 and 9.30pm. Easter is early in 2027 so our last session will be 5 April. This is the classroom, theoretical, part and will be held in the Dallinghoo Jubilee Hall IP13 0JX. The dates and brief details are listed in the course calendar which should accompany this. Sessions include an afternoon in our Wherstead teaching apiary on 10th or 11th April from 2 to 4 pm - you choose which - and a grand finale all-day session from 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday 25th April – a day you can’t afford to miss.
The fee for our Course is currently £60.00. For a second person at the same address, we offer the course at half price, but the pair will get only one set of notes. If you want to take the course but can’t afford the fee, please ask - reductions and waivers are available.
Continued learning
The handouts provided will not cover all you need to know. While you are encouraged to borrow books from either public libraries and/or this Association’s, you will need one of your own to refer to when uncertain what to do. At least one general book on beekeeping is essential - start reading and absorbing this as soon as possible. Two books are not better than one as different viewpoint may clash.
Recommended reading:
We suggest you buy yours from Northern Bee Books, Scout Bottom Farm, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge HX7 5JS; Northern Bee Books. You will also need a notepad; A4 is best since this is the size of the handouts. Our library also has some good introductory books and DVDs; please borrow them.
Don't delay!
If you are thinking seriously about taking our course, please do not wait until nearer the day but get in touch; places are limited. Not long ago we were fully booked six months in advance; most years we have to refuse late applicants.
About our instructors
Jeremy has been keeping bees since 1985 and is a BBKA Master Beekeeper, currently one of only four in Suffolk. Brett Bayliss has been keeping bees since 2018. He is a BBKA Qualified Beekeeper and holds the BBKA Intermediate Theory Certificate. In his ‘spare time’ Brett runs a small beekeeping business, producing honey, beeswax and other hive products. Our relaxed and friendly approach is ideal for helping beginners feel confident around bees and get the most from the early stages of their beekeeping journey.
As far as we know, our local agricultural college, Suffolk Rural, does not currently offer an introductory beekeeping course.
The British Beekeepers' Association
Those intending to keep bees in Suffolk are strongly advised to join one of the six beekeepers’ associations allied to the Suffolk BKA. Membership provides £10M third party insurance cover via the British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA) and a ready source of advice and help. Members are most welcome to attend any Suffolk beekeepers’ meeting. See: https://www.suffolkbeekeepers.co.uk
Any introductory course can only be the very early beginnings of your grasp of the practical, complex arts of bee husbandry – you should plan to continue to study. If you are not eager to continue to learn, we course tutors will have failed!
If you have any queries, or a disability which requires some special consideration, please contact Jeremy Quinlan: 01473 737700 or jeremyq@tiscali.co.uk
More details
Be sure to check out the course calendar of events 2027 for more details
Ready to sign-up? Use our online form and register now!
