This short course is designed for those who have never kept bees before, or anyone who has a general interest in the subject.

The taster event is broken into 3 sections: a beekeeping theory overview, examining of live honey bees and finally a Q&A opportunity.

Taster events run from 10am-12noon.

An introduction into the world of bees and beekeeping that looks at the various tasks a beginner beekeeper needs to master. You will get to see a beehive and perhaps discover if beekeeping is really for you. While the event is aimed at newcomers and has a loose agenda it will be tailored to the audience on the day.

The two hour session will include:

• Examine a beehive, its parts and its structure
• Using a bee suit, a smoker, and the hive tool
• Inspect a live hive to do an inspection
• Identify castes of the honeybee (queen, worker and drones)
• How to find the queen and recognise brood and honey
• Why disease management is so important

• Start those considering becoming beekeepers on a journey of education
• To provide advise on the steps needed prior to taking up beekeeping
• To communicate the benefits, responsibilities and costs when becoming a beekeeper

• Basic introduction to bees and beekeeping

• Beehive types and components
• Basic Beekeeping equipment 

• The Beekeeping Year
• Honeybees, Bumblebees, and other Bees

• Provide a better understanding of bees and beekeeping

• Encourage the take-up beekeeping across genders, age groups and cultural backgrounds
• Help reduce the number of new starters with no training and encourage people to attend full courses

Various Sheffield venues - venue will be confirmed by email

Jez Daughtry is the owner and head beekeeper of The Sheffield Honey Company. Jez has a genuine passion for bees, for quality local produce and for doing good business. Jez has undergone training with the British Beekeepers’ Association, and has played a crucial role in re-establishing the Sheffield Beekeepers’ Association. Jez considers himself to be a progressive beekeeper – willing to embrace new technologies and ideas, while respecting the tried and tested tools, materials and practices used by beekeepers for over a hundred years.

Jez manages over 100 hives located at various Sheffield locations. He has been developing the concept of city based honey production since 2007 through to The Sheffield Honey Company’s launch in 2010. 

Priority for places will be given to Sheffield residents