2025 saw Matt debut as a teacher for Harrogate and Ripon Beekeeping Association.
The Beginner Beekeeping Course run by HRBKA takes place over three terms:
Term 1: From January to April, there is a series of six lectures covering introductory theory material. This includes an introduction to bees, hives, apiaries, inspections, bee health and honey bee products.
Term 2: From May to June, practical sessions take place at the HRBKA apiary.
Term 3: From January to April the following year, there is another series of six lectures covering more advanced theory topics. This includes information on queens, mating, swarming, anatomy, feeding and disease.
The first and second year sessions are on alternate Mondays, running in parallel, meaning Matt was teaching both introductory and advanced classes. But he wasn’t teaching them alone. Every class is run by two beekeepers, leading half the session each. The crucial advantage of working together is if a student asks something especially tricky, there’s double the chance they can come up with an answer!
From the pool of tutors, Matt was chosen to teach these classes:
Year 2: Anatomy, Communications, Navigation, Mating
- Honey bee anatomy
- Pheromones & dances
- Honey bee learning & navigation
- The behaviour of virgin queens and drones in Drone Congregation Areas in relation to mating
Year 1: Introduction
- The very first lesson of the course!
- Overview of the honey bee and its history
- Overview of related insects in the animal kingdom
- Introduction to hives & beekeeper tools
Year 2: Basic Assessment, Queens, Starvation
- Overview of the basic assessment practical exam
- Overview of the queen bee
- Signs & prevention of starvation in colonies
Year 1: Apiary, Inspections, Tools
- The optimal sites for apiaries
- The process of & reasons for inspections
- Demonstration of handling techniques
- Tools used in inspections
Year 2: Combs and Honey Harvest + Q&A
- Harvesting & extracting honey
- Other hive products
- Opportunity for students to ask questions
Year 1: Honey Harvest and Hive Products + Q&A
- Harvesting & extracting honey
- Other hive products
- Opportunity for students to ask questions
So, how did it go?
Matt was most intimidated by the first lecture he gave. That’s logical, isn’t it? It was his first time leading a theory session! Except it wasn’t just starting something new that was making him nervous. Second year bee anatomy was a topic he was familiar with on only a basic level. The best thing a person can do to combat fear is prepare and that’s exactly what Matt did. He dedicated plenty of time to hitting the books before delivering the talk. Nevertheless, he walked into the classroom dreading being asked a question he couldn’t answer.
Happily, Matt was able to end on a high since the final two sessions covered a topic Matt knows inside out: honey and hive products! Before these final classes, he had delivered a talk called ‘Extracting Honey & Hygiene’ which wasn’t part of the Beginner Beekeeping Course but was open to any member of Harrogate and Ripon Beekeeping Association. There was a lot of overlap between his talk and what he’d need to cover for the course, so he felt thoroughly ready when he stood before his class.
Do you know the adage “the best way to learn is to teach”? Matt can vouch for it. Completing the Basic Assessment last year was a great decision and helped Matt to come into his own as a beekeeper. Preparing and delivering these Beginner Beekeeping sessions for fellow beekeepers consolidated that knowledge and has left him feeling more confident than ever.
The term 2 practical sessions run from May to June, so keep your eyes open for ‘Matt the teacher: apiary edition’!
