Throughout history bee keeping has been a source of fascination. The Greek philosopher Aristotle is said to have been obsessed with bees. Today, Jeremy Clarkson, David Beckham and Ed Sheeran are apiarists and HRH Queen Camilla keeps bees at her Wiltshire estate .
Closer to home the many members in the Weybridge Beekeeping Association would agree. Andrew Halstead has been an avid beekeeper for several years. For him the joy of beekeeping lies in the interaction of the bees themselves. “Honey bees have a complex social order within the bee colony that enables them to raise thousands of bees and become a foraging work force.” he says. “I have three colonies of bees, which in a good year will produce about 250 pounds of honey”.
Beekeeping has many benefits
Looking after bees is a passion of local bee farmer Sergio Pignagnoli of Bee Friends near Guildford. For him bee keeping has many benefits. “Just being outside keeping an eye on the bees is so rewarding. It’s good for your mental health and everyone knows that bees have a huge positive impact on the flora and fauna” he says. You can find out just what he means by taking a tour of his farm, looking at bee activity close up through glass to see how they forage and make honey.
Getting Started
It’s never too late to take up bee keeping – the average age of a beekeeper is said to be around 65 years. It’s recommended that you start off with two hives which allows you to compare the varying habits within each hive and prevent swarming
The amount of time you’ll spend looking after the bees varies. In winter there’s little to do, the busy period is April to August when you can spend around 30-60 minutes a week in their company. You can buy bees from local breeders or farmers but if you join a beekeeping association.
You could spend in excess of £500 on your bees, the bee suit, hives and basic equipment but this will be offset by the years of enjoyment to be had. you’ll have access to swarms
The average age of a beekeeper is 65
Avis Marshall of the Kingston Beekeepers Association (KBA) started keeping bees when she retired and got hooked. “It’s a wonderful hobby” she says. “and there’s so much to learn – bees always do something different.”
If you are inspired and want to find out more about bees and bee keeping why not attend a taster session?
Weybridge Beekeeping Association run taster days giving you an overview of beekeeping, on Wednesday 13th August and Saturday 16th August. weybridgebeekeepers.org Full training courses are also available. You can take a tour of the Bee Friends Farm, Guildford on Sunday 20th July visit their website for details. befriends.org.uk.
You can also enjoy a Meet the Bees Taster session in Kingston at KBA on Sat 6th September where you will get an over view about beekeeping. Visit Kingston Beekeepers here for information.
