OBKA Beginners Course 2024

Welcome to everyone who is interested in joining our 2024 Beekeeping Beginners’ Course.

You are invited to our first introductory session:

What is Beekeeping?

7.00 pm, Wednesday 31st January 2024
Woodstock Bowls and Tennis Clubhouse, Cadogan Park, Woodstock OX20 1UW

(click here to see their website).

This session is to introduce and outline the Beginners Course, an opportunity to meet some of your tutors and ask questions before you decide that you wish to enrol. This session is to help ensure that this is the course for you as beekeeping does involve some commitment and we do have a limit on the number of places for this course which is run by volunteers. But we are keen share our knowledge and passion for this fascinating craft.

There is no charge for this session and you do not need to bring any equipment – although you may wish to make some notes.

Shortly after this session we will open the process for enrolment for the course.

It would help us to get an idea for numbers attending this session if you would email our Training Co-ordinator, Dawn, at training@obka.org.uk if you intend coming, but there is no registration and everyone is welcome on the night. We look forward to meeting you.

OBKA Beginners Course 2024

The course aims to give you the basic beekeeping skills. Thereafter you can decide whether you wish to develop your skills further. The course is run over 8 sessions and the provisional arrangements are as follows:

Theory: 4 classroom sessions 7-9 pm Wednesdays: 21st Feb/6th March/20th March/17th April
Practical: 4 practical sessions 7-9 pm Wednesdays: 8th May/22nd May/12th June/26th June

(An additional practical session option may also be available on Tuesdays the 14th of May, 4th of June, 18th of June, and 2nd of July, but will be dependent on the number of people interested in joining.)

The practical sessions are held at our training apiary at Marlborough School, Woodstock. We normally also have our classroom sessions at this school, but are awaiting confirmation and will use an alternative venue if necessary.

The fee for the course is £100 and you will also need to become a member of OBKA which costs £29 that includes membership of the British BeeKeepers Association. As an OBKA member you will have access to our other courses. Payment and other details will be given when enrolment opens. The course is restricted to adults only (aged over 18 years old).

What to know a bit more about what is involved in being a beekeeper?

If you want to know a bit more about becoming a beekeeper and what it entails then we recommend reading this article from a well known blogger on beekeeping (and bee researcher) The Apiarist; his article about becoming a beekeeper is here.

Please Note: Attendance at the  ‘What is Beekeeping’ is required if you want to sign up for the Beginners’ Beekeeping course. People find that attending the ‘What is Beekeeping’ course is a useful way to decide if they want to commit to the full course and hence whether or not to sign up for the Beginners’ course and also join OBKA;  you cannot do the Beginners’ Course unless you are also a member of the Association.

To join the Oxfordshire Beekeepers Association (OBKA) click on this link to go to the application form.