Our education officer works hard to promote the education side of our branch and encouraging our members to study for the full range of examinations and courses that the BBKA has to offer. As a result, we hope this will lead our members to be better and more knowledgeable beekeepers.

We are pleased that more members of our branch have successfully passed the “BBKA Basic Assessment” and “Honey Bee Health Assessment” as well as Module examinations in 2024.

Candidates have to have kept bees for at least 12 months to take the Basic, and three years for Honey Bee Health. Modules can be taken once Basic Assessment has been passed.

Study groups are being set up across the county for members who wish to learn more from BBKA modules which follow on from the basic assessment. As a result, we are hopeful of more success this coming year. These study groups have proven a great way of learning therefore expanding your knowledge. The exams are optional.

Association Courses

Introduction to Beekeeping Course

****New dates added for January 2025****

Attending this Introduction to Beekeeping course which runs over two sessions on consecutive Sundays is an excellent way to get the facts you need to decide if beekeeping is for you. The course covers basic beekeeping theoretical knowledge and has one apiary session included.

After the course we recommend everyone joins the club and attends the club apiary regularly to gain practical skills and also learn by interaction and discussion with other beekeepers.

This course is classroom based and will be followed by a practical session once the weather is warm enough to open hives at one of our club apiary sites – this will be later in Spring 2025.

The course costs £115 which includes the book ‘The BBKA Guide to Beekeeping’ (£100 without the book).

This book is our recommended companion book for the course. We are pleased to be able to supply it at a competitive price.

Venue: Fence Village Hall. Wheatley Close, Fence, Burnley. BB12 9QH

Time: Sunday 10:00am- 4:00pm

Duration: 2 sessions
Part 1 Sunday 19th January 2025
Part 2 Sunday 26th January 2025

Places are allocated on a first come first served basis. You can register your interest in a course by using the contact form below.

You will be asked to pay by BACS if possible, or by cash / cheque on the first session of the course. You will need to be able to attend all sessions on the course you choose.

Basic Assessment Course

The Basic Beekeeping certificate is an assessment of basic practical beekeeping skills as well as basic beekeeping knowledge so it is important to attend the club apiary regularly through the spring and summer to access the practical part of the training.

To take the Basic Assessment in Beekeeping you must have managed at least one colony of bees for a minimum of 12 months and be a member of the BBKA – you are a member of BBKA if you are a member of ELBKA.

On assessment day an assessor ( an experienced beekeeper) will assess your Basic beekeeping skills by watching you open a hive and do a few other tasks. This is followed by a question/answer session.

The assessments will be arranged in the club apiaries in July. 

Dates for future course(s) will be included here when arranged

The syllabus  and more information about the Basic Assessment certificate is available on the BBKA website   https://www.bbka.org.uk/basic-assessment

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Please contact the Education Officer if you would like to join one of the courses.

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For details of training being run by other branches, please click on the following link

https://www.lancashirebeekeepers.org.uk/education

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