one-day course beekeeping

venue: Martineau Gardens, Birmingham

In the past year or two there have been many media stories concerned with declining bee populations and the possible threat of disease wiping out colonies. Lots of people, including quite a few celebrities, have jumped on the beekeeping bandwagon - but for how long? This course is intended to introduce the basic principles involved in keeping bees, and to help you decide whether it is for you, or whether you'd just prefer to become a bee landlord?

The course includes theory and practice, and covers:

• the differences between honey bees, bumble bees and wasps, and their life styles?
• the hive: human input and what happens inside
• the siting of hives: in your garden or elsewhere?
• the bee colony: what is it, how many bees does it contain, and seasonal variations
• what do bees make and what do they make it from?
• honey tasting
• swarms
• honey and equipment for extraction
• other products
• honey shows
• hands on with real bees

Protective clothing will be provided but you will need to bring a pair of wellies.

dates: see 'book online' below

more on beekeeping

a fantastic display of different types of honey at the Kings Heath show, Birmingham

a swarm of bees - would you know what to do?

all tucked up nice and cosy for the winter