Fleet & District Beekeepers Association

About

Fleet & District Beekeepers Association is a member organisation, almost all of whom are hobbyists. Between spring and autumn the Association holds local apiary meetings at which practical beekeeping skills are demonstrated and discussed. Beginners and novice beekeepers are encouraged to prepare for and take the British Beekeepers Association Basic Assessment).

Regular meetings and discussions are also held throughout the rest of the year, usually at the Memorial Hall in Church Crookham where there is ofen a speaker on a subject linked to beekeeping plus a social gathering over coffee and biscuits. Currently meetings are still being held virtually, but will resume as face to face meetings shortly.

Each year the Association runs a “Beekeeping for Beeginners” course which starts with a series of weekly theory sessions in February and March before moving onto a series of practical sessions that run throughout the rest of the year.

Fleet BKA Shop: the shop stocks all the consumables (frames and foundation) and equipment such as hive tools, smokers, etc., that a beekeeper is likely to need throughout the year at competitive prices. The shop is run on a non-profit basis with any surplus going back into the Association for the benefit of all members. Open every Friday from 18.30 - 19.30 April - September.

About Fleet & District Beekeepers Association

Fleet & District Beekeepers’ Association (FBKA) was founded in 1918 to support beekeepers across North Hampshire and over 100 years on, the association welcomes new members wanting to learn this fascinating and ancient skill. We encourage, train and support local beekeepers to maintain healthy, docile and productive honey bees as well as advancing the education of the public in the importance of bees in the environment. We hold regular meetings and other events to promote best practice and further the craft of beekeeping. Over the last few years the growing interest in beekeeping as a hobby has made our Beginners’ course very popular and we currently have around 230 members. Prospective beekeepers of all ages are always made welcome.

Good to know

User Cost/Charge Information
Initial Beekeeper Training course fees: The course fee in 2022 likely to be around is £150 (+£80 for a second person at the same address). For this, you get: the initial theory lessons; the ‘Haynes’ Bee Manual’; practical training sessions in the BKA apiary; more theory lessons in the second year and Full membership of the Fleet BKA (and BBKA) in your first year. As a member, you’ll have access to and get to know lots of experienced and knowledgeable beekeepers at the monthly meetings and at weekly shop sessions (near Fleet) on Friday evenings throughout the spring and summer.

You will also need a bee suit costing around £150, and a hive can be from £150-£250 upwards. Essential tools, etc will be under £50. When you are ready to get bees, the association may be able to help (no guarantees) at modest cost, or you can buy a (small) nucleus colony of bees from a commercial supplier at around £260 (2021 prices), or perhaps significantly less from other members. So budget £500-600 in your first year (more if buy bees from a commercial supplier). You do not need to get bees in your first year, but if you do, you’ll probably want to buy another hive in your second year.

Expect costs from second year onwards to be typically around £30 membership plus up to £50ish for supplies, etc., and you may want to buy some equipment for honey processing (£50) – but you may be able to borrow some items from other members; and the association has some equipment for hire.