Beginners Course 2026
2026 Beginners Course
We run an annual beginners course in March/April each year that introduces people to beekeeping.
The course is based on the syllabus of the Scottish Beekeepers Association Basic Beekeeping Certificate, which is considered to cover all the basic requirements a beekeeper should know. Book your place today!
Dates
The dates for the course are:
Wednesday 18th March 2026 @ 7:30pm
Wednesday 25th March 2026 @ 7:30pm
Wednesday 1st April 2026 @ 7:30pm
Wednesday 8th April 2026 @ 7:00pm (Social evening with buffet and drinks to meet other beekeepers)
Saturday 11th April 2026 @ 11:00am
Saturday 18th April 2026 @ 11:00am
Saturday 25th April 2026 @ 11:00am
Structure
The course comprises 3 theory lectures and 3 practical-themed lectures. The lectures are given by different members who have been keeping bees for many years.
The theory lectures are held on a Wednesday evening and cover the following topics:
- The lifecycle of the honeybee, bumblebee, and wasp
- Equipment used in beekeeping (with a variety of equipment available to see and look at)
- The Beekeeping Year
The practical aimed lectures are held on a Saturday and consist of a morning theory lecture at 11:00 and a visit to our training apiary in the afternoon at 13:30 to put the theory into practice.
The following topics are covered in these 3 lectures:
- Basic information about opening a hive
- All about swarming
- Keeping Healthy Bees
(Note: Lecture order may be changed to accommodate speaker availability and the order above is just an indication)
There is also a social evening held between the theory and practical lectures to meet and chat with other beekeepers.
Venue
The course is held at The Carrick Centre in Maybole, in the Crossraguel room at the rear of the building.
For Saturday sessions lunch can be purchased at the Carrick Centre Cafe but is not included in the cost of the course.
Cost
The course costs £65 per person. (Juniors under 16 must be accompanied by an adult enrolled on the course) plus Scottish Beekeepers Association membership of £45.
This is made up of:
Annual Membership of Ayr Beekeepers £15
Lectures Costs – £50 (This works out at £8.33 per lecture)
Annual membership of Ayr Beekeepers entitles you to attend all our meetings throughout the year, including those after the course has finished until 31 December 2026.
Annual Membership of the Scottish Beekeepers Association is £45 (primary member), £20 for an additional adult, and £10 for an additional junior.
The Scottish Beekeepers Association (SBA) is a separate charity (SC009345) representing beekeepers in Scotland and providing its members with insurance.
Please note that Scottish Beekeepers Association (SBA) Membership is required to visit our club apiary. If you are not already an SBA member, please include this in your enrolment. Existing members or anyone joining the SBA directly must bring their SBA membership card on or before the first apiary visit.
If SBA membership can be included as part of this booking process which will increase the total cost to £110
Scottish Beekeepers Association is £45 (primary member), £20 for an additional adult, and £10 for an additional junior.
The Scottish Beekeepers Association (SBA) is a separate charity (SC009345) representing beekeepers in Scotland and providing its members with insurance.
Please note that Scottish Beekeepers Association Membership is required to visit our club apiary. If you are not already an SBA member, please include this in your enrolment. Existing members or anyone joining the SBA directly must bring their SBA membership card on or before the first apiary visit.