Beginners' Course
Beginners Classes 2025:
For those of you who are thinking of keeping bees or just want to learn more about bees, the best way to start is by attending a course in beekeeping.
We run a Beginners course which is due to start in February/March 2025.
The course consists of 10 weeks classroom tuition, based at Pontardulais Comprehensive School and two exclusive practical sessions at our Apiary at Llys Nini Animal Centre, Penllergaer, Swansea, SA4 9WB.
As a member of the society you will be invited to talks ,and social evenings which are held at The New Lodge Gorseinon. Alexandra Rd, Gorseinon, Swansea SA4 4PE. You will also automatically be registered as a member of WBKA (Welsh Beekeepers Association) and receive a quarterly magazine and updates.
If you are interested then please contact our membership secretary on ; sdbks.membership@gmail.com
and we will contact you sometime in December so that you can register, if you are still interested.
Please note all dates, days and costs to be confirmed.
Start date: TBC
Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Length of Course: 10 weeks
Location: Pontarddulais Comprehensive School (Caecerrig Road, Pontarddulais, SA4 8PD)
Cost: (For 2024, 2025 TBC) £125 per person - which includes a 10 week theory course, followed by 2 exclusive practical sessions in the Society Apiary, located at Llys Nini Animal Rescue, Penllergaer. The sessions take place on consecutive weekends and are initially restricted to the beginner's class to ensure attendees get the benefit of close tuition from the experienced members of the Apiary team. The Society Apiary is accessible every weekend through the beekeeping season, usually April to September, where members and beginners can continue to improve their bee handling skills. Membership also includes other benefits such as Bee Disease Insurance for up to 3 colonies and Public Liability Insurance. To register for the class please contact our Membership Secretary.
If you would like further information about either the joining the Society, the Beginner's Course or any other aspects related to beekeeping please contact us.
We also welcome children under 16 on the Beginners' Course and on Taster Days. However, they must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult but the respective fee will only need to be paid for the child.
Support for new beekeepers
As well as being able to attend the Society Apiary at Llys Nini, the Society has an 'e-learning' blog which will give you occasional reminders and guidance on the care of your own bees. In the apiary
Basic Assessment Study Group
Once you have managed at least one colony of bees for a minimum of 12 months you are eligible to take your Basic Assessment in beekeeping. This is a practical assessment of your basic beekeeping skills and a discussion on various aspects of the beekeeping year. We run annual study groups for people who would like to take their assessment (or people who would just like to study more), and spend a weekend in the apiary practising for the assessment. Any one interested should contact the Education Officer (Nicola Oulton) or if you would like more information or details of the syllabus please take a look at the WBKA (Welsh Beekeeping Association).
[Details of when and where these will be held will be posted once interest has been established and details agreed.]
Module Study Groups
There are 7 NDB modular exams that can be taken after gaining the Basic Assessment. Each module looks at a different aspect of beekeeping. We will put together study groups or tutorial groups for people interested in any of the modular exams. If you are interested in sitting any of these modules, please contact the Education Officer (Nicola Oulton). If you need any further information about the modular exams system have a look at the BBKA information.
[Details of when and where these will be held will be posted once interest has been established and details agreed.]
Microscopy Workshop
The Society will put on a one day Microscopy Workshops if there is sufficient interest. For these to be cost effective a minimum of four people will need to express an interest. Places on each session will be limited by the number of dissecting microscopes available - there are currently four that the Society can use and two people can share a microscope – but anyone attending will be very welcome to bring their own.
For any sessions that are arranged the following will apply:
Location: Pontarddulais Comprehensive School (Caecerrig Road, Pontarddulais, SA4 8PD)
Start time: TBA
Finish time: TBA
Cost: £15.00 per person (SDBKS Members) and £25.00 per person (Non-members) to cover consumables - chemicals, slides etc - and room hire.
The workshop will include how to set up and manipulate a microscope as well as preparing a honey bee for dissection and dissecting a honey bee with the aim of looking at the alimentary tract (and maybe other parts of the bee too). It will also include an Acarine and Nosema study.
Participants will need to bring about 20 freshly killed bees and, if you have them, a dissecting microscope and dissecting tools. Participants will also need to bring their own lunch.
If you are interested in microscopy and would like to take part in one of these workshops, or if you have any questions regarding these, please contact our Master Beekeeper: Stephen Davies.
Once there is sufficient interest, dates will be set and any workshop that is not fully subscribed will, of course, be advertised.