Training & Education

Bee Keeping is challenging and fascinating. Bee behaviour as individual insects and as a colony can seem quite daunting and as beekeepers, we are constantly learning about them. 

Becoming knowledgeable, confident and responsible beekeeper takes time and practice. 

To help with this, Wakefield and Pontefract Beekeepers Association (WPBKA) has its own Apiary in Thornes Park Wakefield which is dedicated to education, demonstrations and teaching & training of beekeepers, new or experienced.

The Association is working on offering a range of courses for those who would like to become involved in beekeeping, and for those who are already involved. The courses developed so far is a Beekeepers Beginners course which covers both theory and practical training and is a good introduction to keeping bees and is recommended for those people who wish to start keeping bees.  It lasts for 8 weeks one evening a week. Experienced beekeepers are on hand to instruct, advise and answer any questions. We are extremely fortunate to have some highly experienced beekeepers known nationally, regionally and locally.

In the Autumn and Winter months we run a series of training sessions and meetings one evening a month covering a wide range of topical issues in beekeeping developing our theoretical and practical knowledge of beekeeping with guest speakers with socialising, comparing notes and discussing problems with pots of tea and cakes. Usually there are no meetings during December and January. 

A full list of meetings can be seen via meetings icon above.

Other courses such as:-

• A Basic Certificate in Bee Keeping,
• Bee Health
• Queen Bee rearing, and
• others will be introduced in time. 

All of these courses will be based on the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) exam syllabuses and are a combination of theory exams and practical assessments. 

The Yorkshire Beekeepers Association (YBKA), which is the largest regional beekeeping association in England, to which WPBKA is a member of also offers training to WPBKA members.

The links below can take you to the YBKA and the BBKA site which gives more detail of the courses and exams available to beekeepers.

YBKA (select from the Education & exams sub-menu)

BBKA