SOUTHEND & DISTRICT BEEKEEPERS
INTRODUCTION TO BEEKEEPING COURSE
NEXT COURSE START DATE – Wednesday 25th February 2026
All 2026 Theory classes will be held at the
Eastwood Community Centre, Western Approaches, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 6XY
on Wednesday evenings for 6 weeks (7pm to 9.45pm)
Please see the course schedule at the link below for more information.
Bookings for 2026 now being taken, please contact our membership secretary at
membershipsecretary.SDBKA@gmail.com
PLEASE NOTE: Places are limited and we cannot guarantee your place until your full payment has been received.
The Southend & District Beekeepers (SDBK), a Division of the Essex Beekeepers’ Association (EBKA) aims to provide training and support to our newer members and those interested in learning more of beekeeping. The first step takes the form of an initial training course which covers all the relevant and necessary subject matter to fully consider what the beekeeping demands are, in a classroom setting complemented by practical handling, if required. This allows those who wish to start their beekeeping journey, or those who have acquired bees in the late summer/autumn, to discuss their ideas and hopes with others at the same stage and with experienced practiced beekeepers in an environment which is non-judgmental. The course will cover equipment needed, skills required, basic understanding and knowledge of bee management, anatomy and life cycle of the honey bee plus the time and costs involved in keeping your own bees.
There are many books currently available on the market. Below are some of which we would recommend as an addition to your Honey Bee library.
- ‘Haynes – The Bee Manual’ by C & A Waring (Please note: free when attending the course)
- ‘Beginner’s Bee Book’ by Ted Hooper
- ‘A Guide to Bees & Honey’ by Ted Hooper
- ‘The BBKA Guide to Beekeeping’ by Ivor Davis & Roger Cullum-Kenyon
Important: Even the basic beekeeping equipment can be expensive. We recommend not buying any equipment until you’ve completed the course and had the chance to discuss options with local experienced beekeepers (although we realise some people do get hives as presents or obtain equipment ad-hoc). Please do NOT buy in bees from elsewhere in the UK or, more importantly, from abroad, as this can spread the risk of disease. Local bee stocks are more suited to their local environment
Please Contact Us to register your interest or to book your place for 2026 (spaces are limited). We can email an application form to anyone interested. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis and subject to a cleared payment.
Once the course has been completed you may still require some mentoring or coaching throughout the season.
SOUTHEND & DISTRICT BEEKEEPERS
INTRODUCTION TO BEEKEEPING COURSE 2026
including PRACTICAL SESSIONS ‘AT THE HIVE’
Full course cost: £150.00 per person
(This includes the annual BBKA/EBKA/SDBK subscription of £38.50 )
Our course is a great introduction to beekeeping, designed to provide each student with the basic skills and knowledge needed to start practical beekeeping in 2026.
The course is limited to 12 places and consists of 6 Theory sessions plus 3 practical sessions, all led by experienced beekeepers. The practical sessions are weather dependent and dates and locations can only be advised nearer the time, hence some degree of flexibility on the part of students will be required.
Cost includes the following:
- The Haynes Bee Manual
- British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) Registered Membership* until 31st December 2026
- British Beekeepers Association 3rd Party Public Liability Insurance to cover standard beekeeping practices. For more information see https://www.bbka.org.uk/insurance
- British Beekeepers Association full colour monthly magazine BBKA News (paper copy)
- BDI (Bee Diseases Insurance) for up to 3 hives.
- Full Essex Beekeepers’Association & Southend Beekeepers membership until 31st December 2026
- Full access to all SDBK monthly meetings, with presentations from invited speakers. Plus the opportunity to chat with beekeepers, old and new, in a social setting.
- Full access to all 2026 monthly meetings of the 8 divisions of the Essex Beekeepers’ Association
- SDBK and EBKA digital newsletters and access to the members’ area on the websites.
- Full access to SDBK lending Library
- Advice and support via a dedicated WhatsApp group
- Free sign-up to National Bee Unit/Beebase
- Practical tuition and discussion time at the hive.
- Loan of bee jacket/suit and equipment during practical sessions, if required.
*A discount could be available for a 2nd person (BBKA Partner member) wishing to join the full course. This person MUST share the same address as the BBKA Registered member and will not receive the BBKA magazine.
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Please contact membershipsecretary.sdbka@gmail.com
to register your interest and/or sign up for the course.
NOTES FOR YOUR GUIDANCE 2026
Our non-accredited courses are based on the British Beekeepers Association recommended studies at Beginner and Improver level.
Please read the course schedule for 2026 to ensure you are available for our Wednesday evening sessions (7pm to 9.45pm) We hold one course per year and regret these dates cannot be changed.
All Theory classes are to be held at Eastwood Community Centre, Western Approaches, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 6XY
Practical sessions are weather dependent and held during the day, at times, dates and locations to be advised nearer the time, hence some degree of flexibility on the part of the students is required. Our trainers have apiaries across south Essex so please be aware you may need to travel. We can provide a bee jacket/suit for these sessions, if required, and any equipment you may need but you MUST have your own marigold gloves and (wellington) boots.
As all our trainers are beekeepers and fellow SDBKA members who offer their services on a voluntary basis, there is an assumption that for the duration of the course, and particularly the practical sessions, a would-be beginner will endeavour to make themselves available for dates and times arranged and ad-hock alternatives as necessary.
It should be understood that beekeeping is more than just an irregular pastime or hobby. You will be dealing with livestock and it requires a level of commitment which, for some, may be something of a sacrifice.
In the first instance, please contact our Membership Secretary and, if possible, attend any pre-course meetings. A link will be provided for you to watch our pre-course video where some of the further commitments, should you wish to take up the craft, will be explained.
Southend Beekeepers Refund Policy. Please note that all BBKA and EBKA/SDBK membership fees are non-refundable. Course fees are only refundable under exceptional circumstances before the course start date providing sufficient notification has been given to enable us to refill your place. Any refunds will be at the discretion of the EBKA Southend Division committee
On behalf of
Southend & District Beekeepers (SDBK)
A division of the Essex Beekeepers’ Association (EBKA)
Registered Charity Number 1031419
Southend Beekeepers 