Taking up the craft of beekeeping is not just a case of buying a hive and some bees from the internet. Without the knowledge to look after your bees, this approach is sure to end in tears.

Chelmsford Beekeepers run a number of sessions and courses throughout the year.

Taster Sessions 
Booking for 2022 is now available via our secure Webshop. Fully Subscribed
Booking for 2023 will become available once details are finalised.
If you have ever thought of taking up the craft beekeeping, this 2-hour session, open to the public,  will introduce potential Beekeepers in the Chelmsford area, to the life cycle of the Honey bee and allow you to see inside a beehive. This session is normally held in late August or early September.

Beginner Theory Course
Booking for 2023 
This five week public course, held in February and March, is very popular, it provides potential Beekeepers in the Chelmsford area a valuable insight into the life of bees. The syllabus of the course broadly aligns with the Basic Certificate in beekeeping and, on completion, will allow you to move on to the Beginner Practical Course.

Book here

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In addition to the Taster session and Theory course, we run a number of specialised courses open to those who have become
members of Chelmsford Beekeepers.
Full details are made available to members through our newsletters. 

These sessions include – 

Practical Course 
Normally held in May, this members only course is a follow on from our theory  course and only students who have successfully completed the theory course and joined Chelmsford Beekeepers will be accepted. During this course you will open up a variety of hives in different settings and at difference stages of development.  You will learn how to safely examine a beehive and gain the knowledge to manage your first Colony of bees.

Swarm Collection
This 2 hour session shows members how to collect honey bee swarms safely and efficiently, including both the theory and practical.

Perfect Hive Inspection 
A Master Beekeeper shows members the correct way to look through a beehive. Using the minimum of smoke. The aim is to make the whole process very enjoyable and safe,  whilst minimising the  disruption to the Colony.

Queen Location, Clipping and Marking 
One of our experienced beekeepers shows members  how to find the queen, clip and mark  her, the easy way and talking us through the advantages and disadvantages of this procedure.

Varroa Treatment and Autumn feeding
A 2 hour session showing members how to monitor the number of varroa mites in a hive,  how to reduce the infestation and, how to provide the bees with food for the winter.

Honey Extraction 
This session helps members with the  the Honey extraction process: the use of  a variety of uncapping and extraction methods, and the final bottling process.

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If any of our Chelmsford courses are fully subscribed  or unavailable,  you may like to enquire or enrol on a course run by  a neighbouring area.

Please make contact with the people below or visit their websites via https://ebka.org/ for more information.

Braintree              Colleen Chamberlain      01279 876 333
Colchester           Morag Chase                       01206 522576
Epping Forest     Robin Harman                   07971 237312
Harlow                   Keith Naunton                  01279 303 471
Maldon                  Glenn Mayes                      07979 862952
Romford                Pat Allen                             01708 220 897
Saffron Walden  Jane Ridler                         01279 718 111
Southend              Pat Holden                         07910 858933

For any other  enquiries relating to courses run by Chelmsford Beekeepers – please use the form below.