So you want to become a beekeeper?

We recommend that to keep bees you must have some background knowledge as there is more to it than just buying some bees and a hive, setting them in your garden, and hoping that they will be alright.

Your best course of action is to find your local beekeeping association. Many do courses for beginners which consist of a series of classroom lessons followed by practical instruction at the association apiary so that you can learn the skills with experienced beekeepers. Once you have these skills and confidence then you may be able to make the step and own your own bees.  

This process means that your bees will have the best care and you will be on your way to being a competent beekeeper.

After you have completed your introduction to beekeeping course, we offer new beekeepers the opportunity to continue with their learning journey during our summer programme. We hold weekly sessions throughout teh summer months at which members can gain valuable practical experience, whilst building a network of fellow beekeepers in a sociable environment.  

 ‘Proficiency in Beekeeping’ is an Open College Network Northern Ireland (OCN NI) Level 3 endorsed course developed by the Ulster Beekeepers’ Association (UBKA) Education and Assessment Team in conjunction with OCN NI and CAFRE. It builds upon the knowledge gained from any introductory course successfully studied. 

 The course consists of 10 units, the content of the first nine to be delivered in the classroom or by Zoom, over 2 years with 15 x 2 hour sessions each year.  Unit 10 skills will be developed and assessed in apiary settings.  

Further details are available on the cafre website https://www.cafre.ac.uk/business-courses/proficiency-in-beekeeping/