Practical beekeeping education, grounded in real experience.
We teach beekeepers through hands-on courses, careful queen rearing, and equipment developed from working apiaries.
Learning from real beekeeping
Everything we teach at Bishops Bees is grounded in active, working practice. Our courses are shaped by experience in the apiary, a deep interest in bee biology and systems, and a belief that understanding matters more than rigid instruction.
Beekeeping Courses
We offer practical, small-group courses for beginners, intermediate beekeepers, and those looking to develop specialist skills. Our teaching is hands-on, supportive, and shaped by real experience in the apiary — helping you build confidence and understanding at your own pace.
Beekeeping Courses at Bishops Bees
Learning that grows with you
Our beekeeping courses are designed to support people at different stages of experience, from those just starting out to beekeepers developing specialist and advanced skills. Teaching is practical, measured, and rooted in real working practice, with a balance of theory and hands-on learning so that understanding can be applied with confidence.
There is no fixed or required pathway. Some people join us for a single course, while others build their knowledge gradually over time. The outlines below are intended to help you recognise where you might fit now, and where you may wish to go next.
Getting started with beekeeping
Practical Beekeeping – The Basics
Who it’s for
People new to beekeeping, or those considering whether beekeeping is right for them.
Focus
This course provides a calm, supportive introduction to beekeeping. It combines essential theory with practical work in the apiary, helping ideas make sense in real situations rather than remaining abstract.
Topics typically include colony structure, seasonal rhythms, basic inspections, and understanding what you are seeing inside the hive. The emphasis is on building confidence and good habits from the outset.
No prior experience is needed.
Building confidence and consistency
Practical Beekeeping – Managing Hives
Who it’s for
Beekeepers with some experience, often one or two seasons, who want to improve confidence and consistency in hive management.
Focus
This course develops practical skills around inspections, manipulations, and day‑to‑day decision‑making. It helps beekeepers move beyond simply following instructions, towards understanding why particular actions are taken and when they are appropriate.
It is particularly useful for those who feel uncertain during inspections or want to strengthen their ability to read colonies and respond appropriately.
Developing specialist skills
Queen Rearing
Who it’s for
Beekeepers with a solid grounding in colony management who want to learn how to rear their own queens.
Focus
This course covers the full queen rearing process, combining theory with hands‑on practice. Topics include drone production, preparing starter and finisher colonies, grafting techniques, different queen rearing methods, and managing mating nuclei.
Attention is given to understanding why different approaches work, how to assess success, and how to troubleshoot when things do not go to plan.
Instrumental Insemination
Who it’s for
Experienced beekeepers looking to develop precise control over mating as part of advanced queen work.
Focus
This two‑day course provides practical training in instrumental insemination. It is taught by practitioners who actively use these techniques, not as abstract theory.
The emphasis is on careful, methodical practice, understanding the equipment, and developing confidence with a demanding but powerful technique.
Advanced breeding and improvement
Queen Breeding, Selection and Testing
Who it’s for
Beekeepers interested in moving beyond queen rearing into breeding, selection, and long‑term improvement.
Focus
This course looks at how to select breeding stock, assess colonies, and test outcomes over time. It explores how to develop your own lines, understand inheritance and performance, and make informed breeding decisions rather than relying on chance.
The aim is to support beekeepers who want to engage seriously with bee improvement and breeding programmes.
One‑to‑one training
We also offer one‑to‑one courses tailored to individual needs. These can range from beginner introductions through to advanced queen rearing, instrumental insemination, or breeding work.
The content and pace are shaped around your experience, interests, and goals.
Workshops and talks
Alongside courses, we provide workshops and talks for groups such as associations, clubs, and community organisations. These can be practical or discussion‑based and may cover topics including beekeeping practice, pollination, meadow management, and wider ecological systems.
Choosing the right course
You do not need to follow a fixed route through our courses. If you are unsure which option would suit you best, you’re very welcome to get in touch — we’re always happy to talk things through and help you decide.