Who to listen to in Beekeeping
Published by Steve Jacklin in Beginning Beekeeping · Monday 03 Mar 2025 · 2:00
Tags: beekeeping, listen, experts, advice, honey, bees, mentorship, beekeeping, community, resources, education
Tags: beekeeping, listen, experts, advice, honey, bees, mentorship, beekeeping, community, resources, education
Who to listen to in Beekeeping
As a new keeper of Bees you will find that there are lots of Beekeepers giving you advice some of which will be confusing and contradictory at times. Sadly Beekeeping is one of those subjects where there is a lot of apocryphal misinformation being spread around. My advice always used to be if you asked the same question too 3 beekeepers you will get 4 answers. It's the Beekeeper that gives you more than one answer is the one to listen too.
There are lots of good theoretical beekeepers and lots of good practical beekeepers. Now there's no point being good on the theory side if you cant apply it to the practical. In my opinion a good practical beekeepers is one who can apply the theory to practice and has the length of experience to of seen just about everything.
So I came up with a bit of an info-graphic.
Just to give some information on the qualifications:
- Basic Beekeeper
- At least 1 Years Beekeeping Experience
- Holds the Basic Beekeeper Certificate
- Qualified Beekeeper
- At least 3 Years Beekeeping Experience
- 4 BBKA Theory Exams
- BBKA General Husbandry Certificate
- Master Beekeeper
- At least 5 Years Beekeeping Experience (Technically 4.5 years but they don't hold the assessment in the winter)
- 7 BBKA Theory Exams
- BBKA Advanced Husbandry Certificate
- National Diploma in Beekeeping
- Master Beekeeper
Not the beekeeper who is in the bottom left is probably not worth listening to but the Beekeeper who is in the top right should be listened too every time.
Now I'm not saying that a Beekeeper with no qualifications shouldn't be listened to. There are some damn good beekeepers out there who have been beekeeping for years, have hundreds of hives and have the necessary experience, but there are some out there who don't do the exams, don't listen to what they are told have 1 or 2 hive that frequently die out but still think they are gods gift to Beekeeping and will tell anyone who will listen.
As new a beekeepers you will start in the bottom left of the chart but work towards the top right.
Steve Jacklin
Master Beekeeper