The Leicestershire and Rutland Beekeepers Association will run two introductory sessions at Walton Village Hall starting on March 31 followed by a three-month course through the summer.

About ten bee-lovers have already signed up for the course, which will teach them how to build hives, look after the bees, recognise signs of disease and how to feed them if necessary.

The association has spent the last two months turning an acre of land in Walton into an apiary – a collection of bee hives.

Derek Glover, from Walton, is a committee member and course tutor, and has been a beekeeper for more than 40 years.

He said: “We already run a course in Brooksby in the north of the county, which is full.

“It’s a long way for bee enthusiasts from this district to travel for three months out of the year.

“Beekeeping is simple as long as you know how to do it.

“There are a lot of amateur beekeepers who lose their bees over the winter or through disease because they don’t know what to look out for. There’s nothing better than practical experience.”

The introductory sessions are free and open to anyone who wants to find out more about the course.

From May, the course, which will run once a week for three months, will cost £3 per lesson.

Bee numbers have been plummeting since a blood sucking parasite was introduced into the UK in 1992, killing millions of bees, and consequently depleting the numbers of wild flowers and fruit crops as bees are vital insect pollinators.

The only way to stop the bee vampires is to educate beekeepers to combat the bug and help restore the natural balance.

For more information about the course phone Derek Glover on 01455 552506 or email d.glover@talktalk.net.

For more information about the association visit www.lrbka.org.