A comprehensive guide to the training offered by MBKA can be found in our Library here.
The training officers are Rachel Kellaway and Simon Anderson.
Rachel is an experienced beekeeper with over 13 years of experience and looking after 30 hives in some years. She is the apiary colony manager and also on the association committee.Her beekeeping qualifications include the Basic Assessment (2018), General Husbandry (2021), BBKA module 1 Honeybee management (2021), BBKA Module 2 Hive Products (2023), BBKA Module 3 Honeybee Pests, Disease and Poisoning (2022), BBKA Module 5 Honeybee Anatomy (2025), BBKA Module 6 Honeybee behaviour (2022), BBKA Module 7 Bee breeding and genetics (2024), BBKA Module 8 Honeybee Management, Health and History (2025), BBKA Intermediate Theory certificate, BBKA Qualified beekeeper Status and BBKA Advanced Theory Certificate.
She has also attended some NDB short courses, Pollen and Honeybee Anatomy Microscopy courses and BBKA Advanced Husbandry 2-day residential course. She also gives talks to community groups and U3A. She runs study groups for the assessments and Modules.
Rachel’s background is Education.
Simon has been keeping bees for 5 years and he is part of the Association apiary team and Association Committee.
He has achieved the Basic Assessment (2022), Honeybee health Certificate (2023), BBKA module 1 Honeybee management (2023), BBKA Module 2 Honeybee Products and Forage (2025) BBKA Module 3 Honeybee Pests, Disease and Poisoning (2024), BBKA Module 6 Honeybee Behaviour (2025) and BBKA Intermediate Theory Certificate.
He has attended Pollen and Honeybee anatomy Microscopy courses, queen rearing courses and the BBKA General Husbandry preparation course. He is currently studying for the BBKA Module 5. He has given talks to community groups.
Simon’s background is in Education.
Please contact Rachel and or Simon by email to register your interest for the training courses: training@montybees.org.uk
Training Venues
Plas Dolerw
Milford Road
Newtown
SY16 2EH
Gregynog Hall & Apiary
Tregynon
SY16 3PL
Training Dates 2026
- Beginners (new to beekeeping): Saturday 7th March 2026 at Plas Dolerw (9am to 1pm)
- Improvers (1+ years beekeeping): Saturday 7th February 2026 at Plas Dolerw (9am to 1pm)
- Intermediate (2+ years beekeeping): Saturday 28th February 2028 at Plas Dolerw (9am to 1pm)
There are concessions for attendees who come from the same household.
Beginners (£130 per person for the full course).
Theory Session: Saturday 7th March at Plas Dolerw (9am to 1pm)
Topics covered:
- Siting an apiary
- Equipment needed and approximate costs
- The colony of bees
- Records and record keeping
- Varroa
- Hygiene
- NBU and role of bee inspectors
- Resources
Practical Part 1 at Gregynog Hall Apiary. Date and times to be confirmed when course numbers are finalised.
This is likely to be in April.
Topics covered:
- How to light a smoker, fuel and safety
- How to make up a frame with foundation
- Suits, gloves and basic tool kit for the first year
- The wooden national hive
- Practical considerations in an apiary
- Hygiene and stings
Practical Part 2 at Gregynog Hall Apiary. Date and times to be confirmed when course numbers are finalised.
This is likely to be in April.
Topics covered:
- A first look in a colony of bees.
- The routine of kitting up, lighting a smoker.
Improvers (£100 per person for the full course).
Theory Session: Saturday 7th February at Plas Dolerw (9am to 1pm)
Topics covered:
- Plans for the year
- Kit for the year
- Spring inspection
- Growth of a colony
- Swarming
- Queen problems
- Artificial swarm
- Making increase
- Brood diseases
- Adult bee diseases
Practical Session at Gregynog Hall Apiary. Date and times to be confirmed when course numbers are finalised.
This is likely to be in April.
Topics covered:
- Spring inspection
- How to do a disease inspection
- Finding the queen
- Artificial swarm methods
- Making increase
Intermediate (£100 per person for the full course.)
Theory Session: Saturday 28th February at Plas Dolerw (9am to 1pm)
Topics covered:
- Managing comb
- Recovering Wax
- Cleaning Frames
- Bailey comb change
- Shook swarm
- Queen problems
- Finding the queen
- Disease inspections
- Splitting on swarm cells (Queen rearing)
- Healthy bees
- Bee behaviour (Communication by sound)
Practical Session at Gregynog Hall Apiary. Date and times to be confirmed when course numbers are finalised.
This is likely to be in May.
A Note on Practical Sessions
Every effort is made to stick to the agreed dates and times for practical sessions, however, the welfare of the bees is paramount, and if the weather is not suitable to open the hives, the sessions cannot take place. A replacement time and date will be agreed if this happens.