Ever wanted to know more about bees, try your hand at beekeeping and didn’t know where to start?

This one-day course will give you the opportunity to ‘test the water’ by finding out what’s involved, looking at equipment, and most importantly, give you the chance to see inside a live honeybee colony under expert tuition.

Key information

• Duration: one days
• Upcoming Date: Sunday 25th August 2024
• Start and finish times: starts at 10.00am and ends at 4pm
• Fees: £125
• Includes: tuition, all materials, and lunch. Protective clothing provided.
• What to bring: boots – preferably wellingtons and a pair of gloves – this should be something like a Marigold washing-up type glove of a size that fits the hand really snuggly.
• Terms and Conditions:
  • you must be 18 years or over to attend our courses.
  • For full list of terms and conditions click here

What you will learn

Suitable for complete beginners, this course will help improve your knowledge of different bees, learning about the biological lifecycles and habitats, and help you identify how best to become a “pollinator ambassador”.

We’ll explore different ways we can help, including the important role gardening for pollinating insects can play in creating bee-friendly gardens and green spaces.

We’ll offer an introduction to beekeeping by going to see a colony of honeybees and observing their lifecycle in their nest (full protective equipment provided).

You’ll also learn how beekeepers can work with honeybees in a natural and sympathetic way.

CAT is situated in the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere, and the site is home to a wide variety of ecosystems and wildlife. This course is a great way to learn about bees while spending some time de-stressing in a natural environment, becoming more aware of the natural rhythms of nature and your own senses. 

Meet your tutors

Jonathan Garratt

Jonathan Garratt grew up with honeybees, going out to inspect the hives with his father as a child in Menai Bridge, Ynys Môn, and eventually taking on the full care of the hives. 

He has been a Seasonal Bee Inspector for the National Bee Unit since 2001, and has run courses in beekeeping for many years, independently and through organisations such as the National Botanic Gardens Wales, The Snowdonia Society, Bangor University and the Woodland Skills Centre.

Jonathan has a BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Msc Rural Resource Management as well as a Permaculture Design Certificate. He has had various roles over the years in conservation, the environment, agriculture and environmental consultancy.

Lisa Mundle

Lisa Mundle has a BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and a Permaculture Design Certificate and is a competent beekeeper and instructor, managing the processing and marketing of honey and hive products. Lisa is a gardener and food grower, and has a specialist interest in gardening for pollinators.

Lisa also works for Wild Elements, a Community Interest Company that connects people to nature, improving lives, opportunities and aspirations.