How To Become A BeeKeeper

Sadly, I don’t tend to see many bees any more. I remember that in those carefree days when I was younger, bees were a natural part of being outside and it would be fascinating to watch them during the warmer months as they busied themselves in the gardens and beyond. I have witnessed several fascinating swarms of bees which is where the queen bee leaves the colony with a large group of worker bees to form a new colony and contrary to belief, bees are not aggressive but more focused on the job that they are doing and will not sting humans or animals without provocation. When they sting, it triggers alarm pheromones that can attract other bees to the threat, increasing the likelihood of being stung multiple times!

Unfortunately, bees are in serious decline within the UK with numerous factors being to blame which include the intensification of farming, loss of natural habitat, climate change and the increased use of pesticides being widely used. The charitable company ‘Friends of the Earth’, states that since World War Two, an astonishing 97% of wildflower meadows have been lost which leaves bees with very little habitat in which to thrive. That is quite a depressing thought.

So , if you are fascinated by these intelligent little insects, you may want to become a beekeeper but what does the job entail? Well, the tasks can be extremely varied indeed and will obviously change with the seasons but generally you will be expected to be able to build new hives for bees while having the competence to perform repairs where necessary. You must be able to introduce new bee colonies as well as identifying when bees are displaying signs of disease or pests. You may be required to breed queen bees and initiate new colonies. You will have extensive knowledge on collecting and the safe storage of  honey from the bees and once you gain enough expertise and experience, you may be in charge of others and be responsible for teaching them about the role of beekeeper.

Many individuals already possess a keen interest in bees or the natural environment in general. Some colleges will offer courses that teach some of the skills that are required to enter into the field of beekeeping but there are numerous short and intensive courses that focus purely on beekeeping. There are also numerous beekeeping groups scattered around the country who can offer advice, as well as several apprenticeship schemes available. The British Beekeeping Association offers excellent advice and information for those who have an interest in bees and they offer invaluable resources and training courses.

Beekeepers will need to have the ability to work alone, be adept with their hands and be able to cope in sometimes stressful situations.  They will have a sound knowledge of biology and be able to operate the appropriate equipment used as well as having a good understanding of the protective clothing which is necessary for beekeepers. Having the ability to think quickly and to pay attention to even the slightest detail will be essential.

Beekeepers can work in a variety of settings which may include commercial apiaries which are large scale beekeeping operations where beekeepers manage numerous hives for honey production, pollination services and breeding of bees. In addition to this, smaller scale apiaries, farms and farm shops, conservation areas, private estates and gardens, beekeeping associations and research and conservation facilities are all areas that they may be able to work.  Beekeeping is such a fascinating and diverse field that offers worthwhile opportunities in various environments where a beekeeper contributes significantly to agriculture, conservation, education and the local communities.