Introduction to beekeeping and the importance of bees to the environment

This is a 6 week course which will cover:

• Session 1: Introduction to Meadow Well Connected garden, safety briefing, share aims and begin building a hive. Familiarize with tools and PPE (hive suit, smoker, hive tool etc.)
  
• Session 2: Visit apiary, see bees in the sealed observation hive. Begin to understand what is happening at the hive entrance and get used to being around bees. Visit flowers/sources of forage in the garden and learn about other pollinators. Learn about nectar/pollen collection and how honey is produced – Honey extraction using a hand spinner and honey tasting (dependent on availability).
  
• Session 3: If we ran out of time last week – we can extract honey using a hand spinner.
  continue to build hive and visit apiary to open hives and go through a hive inspection. Candle making.
  
• Session 4: Make a ‘split’ from an existing hive to occupy the hive we are building together – learn about swarms and inspect beehives. Candle making.
  
• Session 5: Place the split into the hive which has been built by the students – inspect other beehives and learn about common pests & diseases and prevention.
  
• Session 6: Inspect hives. Share honey-based food (porridge/flapjack/chocolate etc.) around a fire for evaluation.
  Students must be able to wear the full body bee suit and wellies (provided)

  Minimum 4 pupils - maximum 8 pupils
  2.5 hour session
  Cost: £180.00 per pupil per course