Bookings Open for our 2024 Beginning Beekeeping Course

Our Beginning Beekeeping Course covers practical skills and provides you with a basic knowledge and understanding of bees and beekeeping allowing you to be able to handle bees safely.

We run two course each year. The course starts with an induction session followed by 6 consecutive Saturday mornings during May and June.

We host one course at our Apiary on the Shugborough Estate, and the second at our sister Apiary at the Forest of Mercia site at Hilton Green.

Both courses are identical and cover the same 6 week practical course, providing plenty of hands on experience with the bees. Each practical session is then supported with a short theory session, after tea and cake.

Over the weeks, you will be able to handle Honeybees under the supervision of our experienced Beekeepers, working in small groups.

The course includes:

  • How to keep yourself safe
  • Hive parts and beekeeping equipment
  • The different types of hives
  • Recognising Brood, nectar, pollen and honey
  • Basic bee biology
  • Understanding why bees swarm
  • Recognising and marking Queens
  • Apiary Hygiene
  • Bee Diseases
  • How to keep strong and healthy bees

To find out more and to book on, click the clink below:

BeeCraft Subscriptions

BeeCraft Subscritions will be managed differently from now on.

You will be given a special promotion code when you either sign up or renew your membership to BeeCraft so that you can manage things yourself via the BeeCraft website. Not only will this make it easier for everyone to manage, it also means you’ll now be able to set up Direct Debit Payments ensuring that your BeeCraft subscription renews automatically and receiving an even greater discount.

The branch discounted rates are £33 for a 12 month print subscription and £20 for a 12 month digital subscription (normal prices are £41 and £25). Further discounts for Direct Debit payments (£31 for print, £18 for digital).

Please note that these prices will be increasing on 1st December to £35 and £22 respectively so make sure you renew your membership before then so that you can access current prices.

Not long to go until the Honey Show

Members are reminded that we need to confirm the numbers attending the Honey Show for catering and entries to the classes.

We would be most grateful if you are planning on attending and entering any of the classes, you head over to the website Honey Show 2023 – South Staffordshire & District Beekeepers Association (southstaffsbeekeepers.com) and complete the ticket and honey show entry sections please.

Bookings Now Open for our 2024 Beginning Beekeeping Course

Our Beginning Beekeeping Course covers practical skills and provides you with a basic knowledge and understanding of bees and beekeeping allowing you to be able to handle bees safely.

We run two course each year. The course starts with an induction session followed by 6 consecutive Saturday mornings during May and June.

We host one course at our Apiary on the Shugborough Estate, and the second at our sister Apiary at the Forest of Mercia site at Hilton Green.

Both courses are identical and cover the same 6 week practical course, providing plenty of hands on experience with the bees. Each practical session is then supported with a short theory session, after tea and cake.

Over the weeks, you will be able to handle Honeybees under the supervision of our experienced Beekeepers, working in small groups.

The course includes:

  • How to keep yourself safe
  • Hive parts and beekeeping equipment
  • The different types of hives
  • Recognising Brood, nectar, pollen and honey
  • Basic bee biology
  • Understanding why bees swarm
  • Recognising and marking Queens
  • Apiary Hygiene
  • Bee Diseases
  • How to keep strong and healthy bees

To find out more and to book on, click the clink below:

Message to Members from BBKA

Please find below some information about the Asian Hornet. It details how to identify the Asian Hornet, how to report on the App, and  asks for all members to put a trap out and monitor and report on any possible sightings.

More information has been put together by the BBKA on the following webpage: Help the fight against the Asian Hornet Invasion.

Or you can click the link below to download a PDF Document.

AHAT Members have been invited to join the BBKA Asian hornet alert WhatsApp group. You can get the latest Asian hornet news stories, sent straight to your WhatsApp on your computer- all you need to do is click the link below. https://chat.whatsapp.com/KtHEKzoayn46VwwK0isFco

Thank you.