The local beekeeping associations in Hampshire listed below offer courses to those who would like to learn about beekeeping. The format, duration and depth of these courses varies; please use the website and contact links for more details.
We strongly advise that anyone who wishes to start keeping bees attends a beginner’s course as the first step. These courses are also suitable for those who would like to learn more about honey bees but are not ready to make a commitment. We also advise that you resist the temptation to buy equipment ahead of attending a course, or at least seek advice from an experienced beekeeper.
For Intermediate and Advanced Training offered by Hampshire associations, please CLICK HERE.
Andover BKA Beginners’ Beekeeping Course 2024
| Start and duration: | Starting Tuesday 9th January, running for 8 weeks from 7.30pm then practical sessions during the season. |
| Venue: | Picket Piece Village Hall |
| Cost: | To be advised; will include a course handbook |
| All you need to bring is a notepad and pencil. | |
| Website and contact: | Please click here for more details or to register. |
Basingstoke BKA Introduction to Beekeeping course 2023
| Start and duration: | Please check their website. |
| Venue: | Please check their website. |
| Cost: | Please check their website. |
| 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. |
Fareham & District BKA Beekeeping Course 2025
| Start and duration: | TBC |
| Venue: | Classes at Titchfield Community Centre, Titchfield, Fareham; Practicals at Manor Farm Country Park |
| Cost: | £85 |
| Consists of 6 classroom-based theory lessons covering Honey Bee Colonies, Inspections; Swarm Management, Diseases and Treatments; Harvesting; and Hive Assembly. Moving into the active bee season there will be 2 to 3 practical sessions where students can handle the bees. | |
| Website and contact: | Click Please CLICK HERE for more information or email the FDBKA Education Secretary for an application form. |
Fleet BKA Beginner Training 2023
| Start and duration: | Please check their website |
| Venue: | Please check their website |
| Cost: | Please check their website |
| The course starts in spring with theory sessions in March and April followed by practical training. | |
| Website and contact: | Please click here for more details or to register |
Meon Valley Beginners’ Theory Course 2023
| Start and duration: | Please check their website |
| Venue: | Please check their website |
| Cost: | Please check their website |
| The Theory Course is 8 weeks long and begins in February. In recent years this has been a combination of online zoom lectures as well as in-person sessions. At the end of this course, we hold a practical session so that you can get some hands-on experience with a hive. | |
| Website and contact: | For more information, please visit the association’s website |
Meon Valley Beginners’ Practical Course 2023
| Start and duration: | Please check their website |
| Venue: | Please check their website |
| Cost: | Please check their website |
| The Practical Course spans the entire beekeeping season (May – November) with fortnightly sessions in our training apiary. | |
| Website and contact: | For more information, please visit the association’s website |
Meridian BKA Beekeeping Course 2023
| Start and duration: | Monday 4th September 2023 – Monday 16th October – 7 weeks course plus practical day with bees around May 2023 – Course start at 7:15 PM – 9:15 PM |
| Venue: | The Youth House, Moorgreen Recreation Ground, Moorgreen, Southampton, SO30 3EG |
| Cost: | £110 |
| Come and find out more including:- – About bees. What honey bees need – some key choices for beekeepers – a beginners guide to keeping bees through the year – main beekeeping pests and diseases – some key products from the hive – a practical session with the bees |
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| Website and contact: | Click here for more details or call Louise Evans Mobile: 07434952900 |
New Forest and District Beekeepers Association Introduction to Beekeeping for Beginners Course 2023
| Start and duration: | Wednesday evenings for 6 weeks, 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm, starting mid-March |
| Venue: | Lyndhurst Community Centre |
| Cost: | £75 including Associate membership giving full access to all the association support and events |
| Our course covers the basics of beekeeping: good colony handling techniques and factual things that all beekeepers should know in order to care for their bees responsibly, such as the life cycles of queens, drones and workers, the swarming procedure and disease recognition. It includes two hands-on ‘meet the bees’ apiary sessions and Associate membership to New Forest & District Beekeeping Association. | |
| Website and contact: | Please click here for more details |
Petersfield BKA Beginners’ Course 2023
| Start and duration: | Please visit their website |
| Venue: | Please visit their website |
| Cost: | Please visit their website |
| The first session is free and is an overview of beekeeping to give people a chance to decide if beekeeping is really for them. A fee is payable on the second session. | |
| Website and contact: | Please click here for more details or email petersfieldbees@gmail.com to book a place |
Portsmouth BKA Introduction to Beekeeping Course 2024
| Start and duration: | The two theory sessions will be held on Saturday 17th February and Saturday 30th March 2024. These will be followed by a practical session in Mid-April |
| Venue: | Theory Sessions: Portchester, Practical Session: Clanfield |
| Cost: | £100, which includes your a copy of the best-selling BBKA Guide to Beekeeping book, course notes, lunch and refreshments on theory days, plus provision of protective clothing and equipment for the practical session |
| Join us for a excellent training course comprising of two theory days, plus a hands-on practical beekeeping session. This course will provide you with a solid foundation in the basics of beekeeping, so as to enable you to be able to start looking after your own colony. |
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| Website and contact: | Please visit the association website for more information |
Portsmouth BKA Supervised Practical Training Course 2024
| Start and duration: | Weekly sessions throughout the main beekeeping season (Mid-April to August) |
| Venue: | Sessions will mainly be held at our Out-Apiary in Clanfield |
| Cost: | Gain a whole season of experience and support for just £100, including the provision of protective clothing and equipment |
| Join us for these fantastic sessions at our training apiary, where you will get hand-on experience of the different tasks that need to be completed throughout the main beekeeping year. Running weekly at our training apiary throughout the primary beekeeping season, these hands-on sessions will support you to confidently inspect hives during the various stages of growth and maturation, as well as experience swarm control, supering and honey extraction techniques, and consolidate your learning at the end of the season through a group discussion and reflection session. |
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| Website and contact: | Please visit the association website for more information |
Romsey & District BKA Beginners’ Course 2024
| Start and duration: | Our flexible format allows you to learn at your own pace. We will support you while you learn and throughout the season |
| Venue: | Online (see below) and on Sunday 5th May 2024 at Awbridge Village Hall |
| Cost: | £110 (held for the 3rd year). Includes course materials and a full day of practical work with a hands-on visit to the bees. We can accept enrolments until mid-April |
| This course provides newcomers to the craft of beekeeping with enough knowledge to start in the same season. We offer 12 tutorials, recorded by our experts and available online exclusively to our beginners, so that you can choose your own quiet time for watching. These are supplemented by Zoom Q&A sessions with the tutors. Each beginner receives a package of reference material. The course includes a full day of practical sessions so that you can handle bees with confidence under supervision; and options to attend sessions at our training apiary. You are encouraged to learn at your own pace and you will be supported throughout the coming season. | |
| Website and contact: | Please click here for additional information, and how to enrol |
Southampton & District Beekeepers’ Association Beginners’ Course 2023
| Start and duration: | 19:30 hrs on Wednesday 22 February 2023, and then every Wednesday for 6 weeks |
| Venue: | Online 19:30 – 21:00 via Zoom |
| Cost: | £80 |
| Session 1 – Honey Bees and Beekeeping Equipment Session 2 – Colony Management Session 3 – Swarm Control Session 4 – Pests, Bee Diseases & Treatment Session 5 – Plants, Hive Products & Marketing Session 6 – Getting Started and Assembly of EquipmentTwo practical sessions will be run during the spring. |
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| Website and contact: | For more information or to enrol, please visit their website or email the education secretary |
South West Hampshire Beekeepers Beginners’ Course 2025
| Start and duration: | The course runs for 7 classroom session on Wednesday evening and practical training sessions in our club apiary throughout the Summer. The next course starts in March 2025. |
| Venue: | Brockenhurst Village Hall, SO42 7RY |
| Cost: | £130 including full membership or £100 including associate membership |
| On the beginner’s course, you will learn what is involved with taking up beekeeping: How honeybee colonies work and communicate, the life cycle of the colony, understanding the bees, how to set up an apiary and what hives are available. We also have a bee buddy scheme and hold apiary sessions during the summer. | |
| Website and contact: | Please go to their Website or email their Training Secretary |
Winchester BKA Beekeeping Course 2023
| Start and duration: | Please visit their website |
| Venue: | Please visit their website |
| Cost: | Please visit their website |
| If you are interested in keeping honey bees, 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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