Local beekeeping associations in Hampshire such as those listed below offer courses to those who are interested in beekeeping. Some offer a series of evening classes through winter, others a 2-day weekend in spring or early summer, or a single day ‘taster’. Some now offer online courses with additional practical support.
Most attendees will go on to keep bees but the courses can also be of interest to those who wish to learn more about honey bees. We strongly advise that anyone who wishes to start keeping bees attends a structured course to learn the basics.
Additional local information can be found on the associations’ websites; please click here for links to local associations.
For intermediate and advanced training offered by Hampshire associations, please CLICK HERE.
Andover BKA Beginners’ Beekeeping Course 2022
| Start and duration: | Starting Tuesday 11th January, running for 8 weeks from 7.30pm then practical sessions during the season |
| Venue: | Picket Piece Village Hall |
| Cost: | £60 including a beekeeping book for homework and a hive tool |
| All you need to bring is a notepad and pencil |
| Website and contact: | Please click here for more details or to register |
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Basingstoke BKA Introduction to Beekeeping course 2022
| Start and duration: | To be advised |
| Venue: | To be advised |
| Cost: | To be advised |
| We run an exciting introductory course each year for those in the Basingstoke and surrounding areas to learn how to get started as a beekeeper. It is an informal, non-examination course where no previous knowledge or experience is required and there is no obligation to join the Association. |
| Website and contact: | Please click here for more details or to register |
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Fareham & District BKA Beekeeping Course 2022
| Start and duration: | January 2022 |
| Venue: | To be advised |
| Cost: | £75 |
| The course consists of 6 theory classes and a pracitcal session. |
| Website and contact: | Click here for more details or to register |
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Fleet BKA Beginner Training 2022
| Start and duration: | To be advised |
| Venue: | To be advised |
| Cost: | To be advised |
| We expect our course to start in spring 2022 with theory sessions in March and April followed by practical training. |
| Website and contact: | Please click here for more details or to register |
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Meon Valley Beginners’ Theory Course 2022
| Start and duration: | Tuesday 8 February for eight weeks |
| Venue: | The first session will be held at Warnford Village Hall (SO32 3LB); sessions 2 – 6 will be held via Zoom |
| Cost: | £100 |
| We record the Zoom sessions so members can catch up if they miss a session. Session seven is held again at Warnford and session eight is at the association apiary when we introduce them to the bees and demonstrate essential skills such as lighting a smoker. |
| Website and contact: | Please click here for more details or to register |
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Meon Valley Beginners’ Practical Course 2022
| Start and duration: | Last week end April/first week end May (weather dependent) |
| Venue: | The association apiary |
| Cost: | £100 |
| The course is held every two weeks, either on a Saturday or Sunday depending on other activities the association is involved in, throughout the season ending with a session about cleaning kit in November. |
| Website and contact: | Contact Jean Frost (Training Team Leader) |
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Meon Valley Taster Day 2022
| Start and duration: | Sunday 12 June |
| Venue: | East Meon Village Hall |
| Cost: | £85 |
| A talk about bees and beekeeping is followed by a picnic lunch at the association apiary in East Meon. After lunch we open hives and have a general discussion about the type of hives, what is inside and general information about the bees.. We have bee suits that we can loan. We end with a Q & A session with tea and cake. |
| Website and contact: | Click here for more details or to register |
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Meridian BKA Beekeeping Course 2022
| Start and duration: | Wednesday 12th January 2022 for 7 weeks, followed by practical sessions |
| Venue: | Curdridge Reading Rooms, Reading Room Lane, Curdridge, Southampton SO32 2HF |
| Cost: | £110 |
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| Website and contact: | Click here for more details or to register |
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New Forest and District Beekeepers Association Introduction to Beekeeping for Beginners Course 2022
| Start and duration: | To be advised |
| Venue: | To be advised |
| Cost: | To be advised |
Our course is intended for anybody who is thinking of starting beekeeping or for those who have started beekeeping and are looking after their first colony of bees. The course also includes the opportunity for hands on practice at the association’s apiary.
Topics covered include: Beekeeping best practice, good hygiene practices, swarm management and disease recognition, equipment needed for both bees and beekeeper. |
| Website and contact: | Please click here for more details |
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Petersfield BKA Beginners’ Course 2022
| Start and duration: | Sundays 20 February, 27 February, 6 March and 20 March 2022; all 2:30pm to 4:30pm |
| Venue: | Petersfield Community Centre |
| Cost: | The first session is free; then £40 which includes membership of the association |
| The first of the 4 sessions in our beginners’ course is a free taster session. Training continues in the apiary from spring |
| Website and contact: | Please click here for more details or email petersfieldbees@gmail.com to book a place |
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Portsmouth BKA Beekeeping Course 2022
| Start and duration: | January 2022 for 8 weeks |
| Venue: | Portchester Community Centre |
| Cost: | £60 |
| The aim is to provide the theoretical knowledge required to safely manage honey bee colonies. |
| Website and contact: | Please email for more details or to register |
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Romsey & District BKA Beginners’ Course 2022
| Start and duration: | Any time up till the end of June. Start and learn at your own pace. We will support you while you learn regardless of when you choose to start |
| Venue: | Online (multi-media) and later at Awbridge Village Hall |
| Cost: | £110. Cost includes materials and a full day for practical work including a visit to the bees |
| This course aims to provide newcomers to the craft of beekeeping with enough knowledge to start this season. It consists of a dozen online modules created by our expert members covering theory, available online so that you can choose your time for watching. We hold live Zoom Q&A sessions with the tutors from mid-February to mid-April. It also includes a package of reading material and a full practical day with a visit to the bees, with the opportunity to attend further practical sessions through the bees’ active season. You are encouraged to learn at your own pace and will be supported throughout the course and your start in beekeeping |
| Website and contact: | Please click here for additional information, and how to enrol |
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Romsey & District BKA Taster Day 2022
| Start and duration: | To be advised – one day towards the middle or end of summer |
| Venue: | Awbridge Village Hall |
| Cost: | £90 |
| While we advise anyone who intends to keep bees to enrol on a beginners’ course, this one-day event will provide an introduction for those who would like to know more about honey bees and beekeeping before taking that step. |
| Website and contact: | Please click here for additional information, and how to enrol |
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Southampton & District Beekeepers’ Association Beginners’ Course 2022
| Start and duration: | March 2022 |
| Venue: | Online |
| Cost: | To be advised |
| We will be running a beginners’ course in 2022. Please contact us for details |
| Website and contact: | Please click here for latest announcements |
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South-West Hampshire Beginners’ Course 2022
| Start and duration: | Mid-March at 7:30 p.m. for 7 weekly sessions, then 4 weekly session in the apiary (weather etc permitting) |
| Venue: | Brockenhurst Village Hall, S)42 7RY |
| Cost: | Cost £100 including full SWHB, BBKA & HBA membership, or £80 including Associate SWHB membership only |
Our beginners course is perfect for both non-beekeepers and those who started beekeeping in the last 12 months.
Each evening class covers a different aspect of beekeeping to give you a strong start. |
| Website and contact: | Please click here for more details |
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Winchester BKA Beekeeping Course 2022
| Start and duration: | Saturday 19th March 2022 10:00-4:00 |
| Venue: | Itchen Abbas Village Hall |
| Cost: | £25 |
| If you are interested in keeping honeybees, we offer an informal one day classroom based course: Beekeeping for Absolute Beginners. This course is ideal for anyone who has an interest in bees and starting beekeeping and aims to help you decide whether beekeeping is right for you. |
| Website and contact: | Please click here for more details or to register |
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