Our learning programme is extensive:
  • Beginners Part 1 starting Tuesday 8th November 2022 at 7:30pm until 9pm and will run for 5 weeks. (8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th November and 6th December)
    • Location: Spaxton Village Hall, High Street, Spaxton, Somerset, TA5 1BS
    • Cost: There will be a small nominal charge of £1 per session to cover the cost of the hall. 
  • Beginners Part 2 course - 5 sessions in early Jan 2023, dates to be advised during first part of the course, but will be held on Tuesday evenings at Spaxton, as before.
  • If you wish to take notes during these sessions, you will need to bring a notebook and pens.
  • Practical course Spring / Summer 2023 - Seven (7) sessions in total throughout the season.
  • Rent-a-hive programme.
  • Beekeeping Microscopy (BBKA syllabus)

To join any of the courses, or if you would like further details, please email our secretary, SBKAsecretary@gmail.com
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New beekeepers

 For new beekeepers the programme is in 3 parts. Part 1 in the Autumn, Part 2 in the beginning of the year and Part 3 (the practical sessions) which are timed to match the beekeeping season. There is also the (usual) Rent-a-hive programme where new members can have a nucleus of bees at the Apiary and nurture the bees to become a full colony during the year. Mentors are always in attendance to help with the tricky bits. The programme of the meetings is negotiated with the rent-a-hive coordinator. Rent a Hive has proved to be extremely popular and spaces for 2023 have been limited to a maximum of 10 participants. So early registration is strongly advised.

Our intention is that new beekeepers can learn at their own pace timed to the beekeeping year. There is also a Mentorship programme running with dedicated mentors assigned to each Rent a Hiver. At the end of the summer season, knowledge, practice and experience will lead to ownership of a colony of bees.

Experienced beekeepers

For the more experienced beekeeper there are sessions on
  • Queen Raising. This follows on from the visit (in 2016) to Peter Little at Allerford to see his Queen raising facility. This also helps to provide the Queens that are needed for our learning programme.
  • Disease / Varroa Control/ Asian Hornet, making increase and swarm control.
  • Microscopy. A one year programme to prepare beekeepers for the BBKA Microscopy exam. Also sessions for the ‘non-microscopist’ about bringing your honey to the apiary and doing your own analysis of the pollen, or doing your own disease checks. It was popular last year.
Any members wishing to take the BBKA Basic Certificate or other BBKA modules and exams are welcome to join the study groups which will be organised according to need. Just get in touch with one of the officers.