BEEKEEPING BEGINNER COURSE 2023
ABOUT US
The Epping Forest Honey co team have over twenty years of beekeeping experience between them and work as trainers for the Epping Forest Beekeepers’ Association, as well as running Bee Experiences and Courses for charitable and commercial events. Robin is a trained Exam Assessor for the British Beekeeping Association (BBKA) who support training for children and in schools.
We are members of the Bee Farmers’ Association and between us run nearly two hundred colonies of bees in North London and West Essex; they are also contracted as beekeepers for another local bee farmer. We provide bees and honey to farm shops, restaurants, farmers’ markets and other retail outlets in North London and West Essex.
SPEND 2+ HOURS LEARNING ABOUT BEES, VISITING HIVES WITH 50,000 BEES AND TASTING HONEY DIRECT FROM THE COMB
robin@eppingforesthoney.com
ABOUT THE COURSES
The first part of the course will be a theory evening and will deal with
- What to expect from keeping honey bees
- The life cycle of the honey bee and the annual work of the beekeeper
- How, what and where to buy* bees and equipment and establish your apiary
- The management of swarming, disease and feeding
- How to extract and bottle honey
The small print: joining a beekeeping association, insurance and more
* Please wait until after this session before buying equipment or bees.
You will be given a copy of the Haynes Bee Manual which will serve well in your early beekeeping years. We ask that you read and familiarise yourself with the book before the practical sessions.
PRACTICAL BEEKEEPING SESSIONS
The second part of the course will take place on consecutive weekend days at one of our London/Essex border apiaries.
You will be given protective equipment and shown how to put into practice the theory of beekeeping learned so far; you will learn to light a smoker, use tools, manipulate a hive of bees and identify the elements of the colony.
We will demonstrate the management of pests and disease, swarming and overwintering, and discuss the weekly and seasonal work necessary for you to keep bees successfully and competently.
A WhatsApp group will be set up to offer practical group support as you progress through the beekeeping year.
CBBC Show me the honey – this has generated a massive amount of interest and is presented by our friend Curtis Thompson. Here at Epping Forest Honey Co we regularly train young beekeepers and have all the correct suits and equipment to protect them.
We will be do courses and beekeeping experiences for children and young people from spring when the bees are coming out of the winter. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Our courses are two full days with an evening theory session for about three hours, around two weeks before.
The cost is £200, including the Haynes Beekeeping Manual, all equipment and liquid refreshments.
BOOKING THE BEEKEEPING COURSE
To book a place on the course please email robin@eppingforesthoney.com
The course includes the Haynes Bee Manual. If you already have the manual the fee will be reduced by £15
Should bad weather result in cancellation or postponement of the course you will have the option to re-schedule or receive a full refund.
Further information please contact either Robin on 07971 237312
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Beekeeping courses, local beekeeping courset befor
