The idea
At The Meadowell Connected Centre I will use funding to place ten beehives at the existing apiary. These hives will arrive flat packed & empty. With the volunteer team, we will assemble the hives. After a short course in theory we will use the raised funds to purchase bees and place in the hives. Weekly inspections will take place and we will learn how to manage the colonies.
Volunteers can go on to study and learn about other aspects of bee keeping and I can offer ongoing support.
I aim to bring people together through beekeeping, participants can learn new skills in building hives and learning about the honey bee. I aim to recruit people from a range of backgrounds and also of ages. I also want to include people who have disabilities or SEND. I would love to run an intergenerational project.
What we'll deliver
- Form a community
- Assemble beehives
- Maintain beehives in the area, providing pollination
- We might get honey!
Why it's a great idea
The project will provide new skills to learn for participants. I aim to recruit people from diverse backgrounds and also of different ages. Beekeeping has improved my mental health, I hope that this will apply to others.
After periods of being told to stay indoors, to protect our communities, I want to offer a reason to come back outside and meet new people while learning new skills and sharing experiences.
There is loads to learn, this project will provide the basic understanding and knowledge. Participants can the further their journey and delve further into the world of honey bees.
The bees will forage in a huge radius, therefore providing a pollination service to local gardens & allotments.
Steps to get it done
- Ordering hives & bees
- Begin the learning journey
- Collect bees & take to apiary
- Put bees into their hive
- Harvest honey!
