When? 21/22 March 2026.
Where? Glen of Luce hall, Auchenmalg.
What? 8 sessions covering an introduction to beekeeping.
Course consists of the following modules:
Hives and equipment
Lifecycle of a bee and siting an apiary
Manipulating a hive
Plants and hive products
Swarming
Harvesting and processing
Pests and diseases and apiary hygiene
The beekeeping year
Who? Mostly complete newbies but we may also have newbies from last year (as a refresher once they have seen a full year of beekeeping) and beekeepers coming back to beekeeping after a spell away.
Linda will run the course – she have over 10 years experience of practical beekeeping as well as Scottish Beekeepers Association qualifications and has run this course for a number of years
Why? Beekeeping is a fascinating but complex subject. It can be learned from books and videos, but better to learn about keeping bees in our local conditions – and to meet local beekeepers who may help you along the way through mentoring and bee chat at our meetings, both in the apiary and at discussions during the winter.
Beekeeping isn’t for everyone so, before investing in equipment and bees, it’s a good idea to find out what you are letting yourself in to! So please don’t buy anything until you have seen the different types of hives and equipment and hear the pros and cons of each as well as understanding your responsibilities as a beekeeper.
How much will the course cost? £25 per person for the full weekend. However you must be a WGBA member and the annual subscription is £15 per person (renewed at our AGM in October). Tea and coffee will be provided but bring your own lunch and snacks.
There is a fair bit of interest in this course and numbers will be limited to 12, so please “Contact Us” as soon as possible if you would like to book your place.