Come and stay at Embercombe in Devon for an inspiring weekend learning about ‘natural beekeeping’ in top-bar hives – a bee friendly way to have bees in your garden with the possibility of your own honey harvest, but without the expense and complications associated with commercial beekeeping equipment. The course is facilitated by Embercombe’s own beekeepers Tim Hall and Jessie Watson Brown. The course is hands-on and as experiential as the weather allows.

On the Natural Beekeeping Course you will learn:

• the nature of bees and the evolution of beekeeping
• the principles of natural beekeeping
• how to build a top bar hive for yourself using simple tools
• the basics of managing a hive during your first year of beekeeping
• how to learn about bees by observing their behaviour

When you see for yourself how bees design and build their own nest, you will realize how little they need from us as beekeepers, and how much we can learn from them.

This course is suitable for beginners and those unfamiliar with natural beekeeping practises. Whatever your level of experience this course will give you the confidence to build and manage your own top-bar hive following the principles of natural beekeeping.

Dates in 2013:

• 26 – 28 April
• 17 – 19 May
• 31st May – 2nd June