Beginner's Beekeeping Course

Our beginner's course is run jointly with Wakefield & Pontefract Beekeepers Association, and takes place at the W&PBKA apiary site at Thorne's Park, Wakefield, where there's a proper classroom on hand for the theory side of things. It's become a popular course over the years and has been fully booked for several seasons running, so if you're thinking about joining, it's worth getting in early.

Who it's for

The course is aimed at adults aged 16 and over. The material we cover in the classroom sessions isn't really suited to younger children, so we ask that anyone joining is 16 or above.

Format

The course runs over 8 sessions across a 9 week period, starting in early May and finishing in the first week of July. There's no session during the Spring bank holiday or half term week. Each evening runs from 6pm until around 8:30pm and follows the same rhythm: the first hour is spent out in the apiary, weather permitting, getting hands-on with the bees, followed by refreshments and a theory session in the Wakefield College rural crafts classroom on site.

Cost

Course fees for 2026 were £70 per person. This is for anyone who is already a member of a BKA, as membership is a requirement of the British Beekeepers Association for insurance purposes and covers you while you're working with the bees on the course.

If you don't already belong to an association, you'll need to take out annual membership alongside your course fee. Barnsley BKA membership includes reductions for partner membership, for a second adult at the same address, and for children's membership. Joining a district association like ours also brings you membership of Yorkshire BKA and the British BKA as part of the package.

Booking

Places are limited to a maximum of 18 attendees. There's always a waiting list building for our next course, and everyone on it will be given first refusal at the end of December. After that, we open up to new enquiries for any places that remain. If you'd like to be added to the waiting list, please see the sign-up form below which is held on the Wakefield and Pontefract website.