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Where do I start?
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The 8 Steps to Becoming a Beekeeper:
Step 0 - Read
this leaflet
or print and give to a friend that is interested in
beekeeping
Step 1 - What does it take to become a Beekeeper?
 To become a beekeeper, you will need to have a calm temperament, patience and
time. The best way to see if you are suited to the craft is to arrange
an 'introduction day' or 'taster day' with a qualified beekeeper. This will give
you the opportunity to experience and test your own reactions and feelings when
faced with many bees. Most people find this initial interaction very
enjoyable and come away buzzing with anticipation for the day when they will
own their own hive. Note: if you are on medication, it is always wise to check
with your doctor before taking up beekeeping.
Step 2 - Read!
 Find yourself a good bee book, which will introduce you
to some of the secrets of the honey bee. We are very
lucky in Essex in that we have a local beekeeper, Ted
Hooper, who has produced one of the most respected books
on beekeeping, called 'Bees and Honey'. We would most
definitely recommend that this should be your first
read. A list of other useful
beekeeping books is also shown at the bottom of this
page.
Step 3 - Take a Course
 The
next stage is to take a Beginner's Course in beekeeping.
Most divisions run such a course at least once a year.
Look at this page
to find out when a suitable course is available.
Step 4 - Join your Local Division of EBKA
 Joining your local division
of the EBKA
(i.e. Chelmsford Division) will introduce you to to many
very experienced beekeepers. In addition, you will have
access to the various meetings,
demonstrations and practical events throughout the year,
along with other benefits.
Step 5 - Basic equipment needed
 The basic equipment
consists of a bee suit (£40-£100), gloves (£10), hive
tool (£5), smoker (£15-£25) - all prices approximate. This equipment will allow
you to examine and manipulate bees, which is all you
should need for the first year.
Step 6 - Buy your own hive
 A new hive costs around £150-£300
(depending on type) to set up. You can buy second-hand
equipment, but you
should be very careful of its origin, to avoid risk of bee diseases. In the first year, you can expect
between 0-100lb of honey per hive, but a more realistic
target would be around 35lb.
Step 7 - Extracting and bottling your honey
 Again, extraction equipment can be bought new
(around £250), bought second-hand or you may be lucky
enough to borrow from a fellow beekeeper. You will also need a supply of honey jars and
labels that meet current UK food regulations.
Step 8 - Other considerations
Space - You will need some space to store your beekeeping equipment. Most beekeepers end up with a
'honey shed'. You will also need somewhere to keep your
beehive. Your local beekeeper will be able to advise
whether your garden is suitable for keeping bees.
Considerations will include size, aspect, exposure to
sun and wind, presence of animals, pets and children;
along with boundary fencing, security and neighbours.
Good tempered bees are a must for beginners - we can
advise you. Many beekeepers successfully keep beehives in small
gardens in and around Chelmsford without any
difficulties. In addition, 3rd party insurance is highly
recommend in case your bees cause any problems; this can
be obtained through membership of the Chelmsford
Division of the EBKA.
Time - In summertime, the bees will
need your attention at least
every 9 days (most beekeepers look at their bees for
2-3 hours, once a
week) to prevent them from swarming and keep everything
in good order. In autumn and winter,
the beekeeper is kept busy extracting, bottling,
labelling and selling the honey produced.
Books to read |
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Practical Beekeeping
Clive de Bruyn
purchase from
www.amazon.co.uk
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Guide to Bees and Honey
Ted Hooper
purchase from
www.amazon.co.uk
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