Beekeeping Course for Beginners – South Wales

Introduction to Beekeeping on a Working Honey Farm

Join us for a hands-on introduction to beekeeping course in South Wales, held at our working honey farm in Carmarthenshire.

This beginner-friendly course is designed for anyone interested in starting beekeeping or learning how honeybees are managed on a real apiary.

Unlike many classroom-style courses, our training takes place on a working honey farm, giving you the opportunity to learn directly from experienced bee farmers and see how a commercial apiary operates.

You will gain practical knowledge, handle bees under supervision, and leave with a clear understanding of how to begin your beekeeping journey.

The course runs from 10am until approximately 4pm on our honey farm with lunch and refreshments provided

What You Will Learn

During the course we cover the essentials of beginner beekeeping, including:

• Honeybee biology and behaviour
• Types of beehives used in the UK
• Essential beekeeping equipment
• How to safely inspect a hive
• Identifying brood, stores and colony health
• Seasonal colony management
• Common pests and diseases affecting honeybees
• Harvesting honey and hive products
• Open a hive and inspect frames of bees with experienced guidance.
• Marking Queen
• Transferring nuc of bees to a full sized hive

Hands-On Beekeeping Experience

Our courses are designed to be practical and engaging.

During the day you will:

• Visit our apiary
• Learn how to open and inspect a hive
• Identify brood, pollen and honey stores
• Understand how a colony develops through the season

Protective clothing (bee suits and gloves) will be provided for you to wear on the day

Learn on a Real Honey Farm

This course takes place at Gwenyn Gruffydd Honey Farm in Carmarthenshire, where bees are managed for honey production and making nucs.

This gives you the opportunity to learn in a real beekeeping environment, not just a classroom or demonstration hive.

You will also see the equipment used by beekeepers and learn what you actually need to start keeping bees.

What You’ll Leave the Course With

By the end of the day you will leave with a clear understanding of how to begin your beekeeping journey.

You will:

• Understand how a honeybee colony works
• Know how to safely inspect a hive
• Be able to identify brood and colony health
• Understand what equipment you need to start beekeeping
• Know when and how to obtain your first bees
• Have the confidence to start your own hive

Participants leave the course ready to start keeping bees in the same season.

A One-Stop Shop for New Beekeepers

One of the advantages of training at Gwenyn Gruffydd is that beginners can see everything involved in beekeeping in one place.

During your visit you will be able to:

• Train on a working honey farm
• Visit our apiary and see how colonies are managed
• Walk around our beekeeping supplies shop
• See the full range of hives, suits and equipment used by beekeepers
• Ask questions about starting your own hive

We supply everything a new beekeeper might need, including:

• Nucleus colonies (nucs) of bees
• National and Langstroth hives
• Protective bee suits and gloves
• Hive tools, smokers and feeders
• Wax foundation, frames and equipment

This means you can leave the course with clear guidance on how to start beekeeping properly, and access to the bees and equipment when you are ready.

Who Is This Course For?

This course is suitable for:

• Complete beginners interested in keeping bees
• Gardeners and smallholders
• Anyone interested in honeybees and pollination
• People considering starting their own hive

No previous experience is required.

Course Location

Gwenyn Gruffydd Honey Farm
Bryn Bach, Carmarthenshire, South West Wales, SA32 8SE

Full directions will be provided after booking.

Course Dates

We run a limited number of courses each year during spring and summer.

Places are limited to ensure everyone receives hands-on experience and time with the bees, so early booking is recommended.

2026 Beginner Beekeeping Course Dates:

1st Date: Saturday 25th April 2026 10am - 4pm

2nd Date: Saturday 9th May 2026 10am - 4pm

3rd Date: Saturday 23rd May 2026 10am- 4pm

Frequently Asked Questions

A full list of course FAQs and additional information can be found at the bottom of this page.

Booking Information

Places are limited and must be booked in advance.

Once booked, you will receive confirmation with further details about the course.

All workshop confirmations and supporting information will be emailed to you, including a reminder the week before the workshop with details and directions to the farm.

Terms and Conditions

Unfortunately we can't predict or control the weather. If, on the day we decide that the weather is too poorly to inspect the bees then a 30% refund will be offered or an alternative date for the practical session offered.  The morning session will run as planned regardless of the weather.

We reserve the right to cancel the training day if there aren't sufficient attendees booked in on a course. We require a minimum of 6 bookings per training day. If there isn't enough bookings 7 days before the planned training date, we will cancel the training day and fully refund each customer.

Cancellations

We put a lot of energy into organising our courses so that all involved enjoy the day. If you are unable to attend the course after booking and get in touch with us at least one month before, we will try to move you to another course date where possible. Please note: 25% of your course fee is non-refundable if you cancel your place over one month before the course date. I'm afraid that should you cancel your place less than one month before the course we are unable to refund your purchase.