Workshop: Understanding Bees and Beekeeping
This interactive workshop is designed as a “taster” for all who want to find out about bees and to get some hands-on experience of beekeeping. Bees of all types are an important part of the vibrant wildlife of Walworth Garden and far beyond. We will discuss the various types of bee and why they are an important part of nature. You’ll learn about beekeeping in London and why we need to be careful about apiary hygiene, pests and diseases, swarms, and public safety. We’ll learn more about honeybees and discuss what equipment is needed to manage an apiary. Everyone will get a chance to be a beekeeper in the afternoon! This session is ideal for anyone who wants to find out more about bees, experience the wonder of opening a beehive and seeing the bees hard at work, or who wants to start on the journey towards being a beekeeper themselves. No prior knowledge or experience is required.
Together we will cover
The philosophy of keeping bees at Walworth Garden
How bees evolved alongside plants, and their role in pollination and the food chain
The different types of bee - bumble bees, solitary bee, and the honey bee
The life cycle of the honey bee
Saving the bees - which bees? and what do we need to do?
Wildlife-friendly gardening
Sustainable urban beekeeping, especially in London
The highlight for most participants is a practical session in the apiary, where everyone gets a chance to get up-close and personal with 40,000 bees! You will leave this session with a good knowledge of bees and what’s involved in becoming a beekeeper. All the presentation materials will be made available to you online, and there are lots of references to follow up as well. Hopefully you’ll feel inspired to get more involved with bees and wildlife! Some previous participants have gone on to be active volunteers at the apiary at Walworth Garden.
Some tips
Please wear long trousers and shoes that cover your feet. You will need to put on a bee suit, so baggy tops are best avoided.
Bees don’t like perfumes, so we suggest you bear this in mind.
Please also bring food for a picnic lunch. (There are shops about 10 minutes away if needed.)
If you have concerns about something, please ask!
Meet Simon
Simon is our resident beekeeper, managing our apiary at Walworth Garden so that volunteers can participate in sustainable beekeeping. He is a local resident who encourages Londoners to explore and enjoy the green spaces near where they live, particularly through volunteering with Butterfly Conservation and London National Park City. Twitter @sbsaville.
Price: £85
This workshop is now fully booked, to be added to the waitlist please complete the form below:
Note for Southwark residents: Looking to book a free place? Unfortunately, our limited quota of free places for the 2022-23 academic year have now been claimed. We will be releasing a refreshed number of free places, along with a new calendar of workshops, in Autumn 2023 so please check back then. Subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media, at the bottom of this page, to be notified.