Bee-keeping Course Taster Session

Sunday, 14th November at 2.00pm at the Forster Road Allotments Community Centre

If you're not sure whether keeping bees is for you or not, this is a perfect opportunity to get all of your questions answered and put all your worriest to rest.  This is a free event at which we will talk about what keeping bees is like, i.e. costs, risks, time-commitment, the highs and the lows, etc.  We will have a few students from the spring 2010 class who will give their first-hand accounts of what it's like to start keeping bees and how they are getting on with their hive(s).  We'll also go in to the nitty-gritty details of the up-coming 2011 class. 

We won't open any hives but we'll have plenty of pictures on hand.   Tea and biscuits supplied.   Rain or shine.   To see a leaftlet for the event, please press here.

The Forster Road Allotments Community Centre is at the end of an cul-de-sac which comes off of Clockhouse Road. Location is pointed out by the  blue arrow on the map below.   The postcode for the area is BR3 4LE.

Basic Beekeeping Course - Starting February 2011

We will be holding two theory classes concurrently:

Sunday mornings at the South Norwood Country Park, 10.00am - 12.00noon, starting Sunday, 6th February.

Monday evenings at the Shirley Methodist Church, 7.15pm - 9.15pm, starting Monday, 7th February. 

Practical classes will be scheduled as soon as the bees have built up a sufficient population, which should be no later than mid-April.  

 
Our Basic Beekeeping Course is a 12-week course consisting of 8 weeks of theory and 4 weeks of practical sessions, two hours each. Our aim is to enable you to feel completely confidant to keep bees.  Detailed course notes - written by Mike Oliver - are supplied with each class.  We practice putting putting together frames and building hives.  We are available for questions and advice after the class ends, and we can also advise in siting your bee-hives.   Tea and biscuits are held half-way through the theory classes. 

The four practical sessions are scheduled when our bees have recovered from the winter.  This is difficult to predict but last year (after a particularly bad winter), we started our practicals in mid-April.   We have a strict policy not to have more than 8 people per practical session to allow enough time so that each person can practice opening hives.  Practical classes are scheduled both during the weekends and weekdays depending on students' availability.  We also provide all necessary protective clothing. 

In the Autumn, we have a Honey Extraction Day and a Reunion.  At the Reunion, Mike gives a special talk on 'How to Get Your Bees through the Winter'.  

Sunset with the Bees

Wednesday, 14 July and Wednesday, 11 August at 7.00pm.  Limited to 10 participants. 

Please call 07773 201 439 to book.  

Weather-dependant - in the event of rain, we will reschedule for another night.

Join us for an informal evening opening hives.  We provide a complete bee-suit and gloves.  £10.   Barnmead Allotments, Beckenham.

Please wear wellies and trousers.  Also avoid perfume/cologne. 

Family Beekeeping Sessions

By appointment, we can introduce you and your whole family to the delight of a bee hive. With proper protective clothing and our supervision you will have a unique experience and we hope you will be inspired by our bees!  Don't worry - we have childrens' bee suits. 

Call 07773 201 439 to make arrangements with us.

Bee-Keeping Talks

We have given several talks to schools, church groups and other organisations.  Please phone or email us to enquire.