Guildford Division is your local division of SurreyBeekeepers’ Association which is a registered charity and began in 1879. The Guildford Division started in 1920 and currently has around 200 members who are very friendly and very happy to welcome new beekeepers in order to promote the craft of beekeeping. Many of our members have years of practical beekeeping which is a valuable resource and the current Committee has over 160 years beekeeping experience between them.
The Division has its lovely teaching apiary at Birtley House, Bramley. It is in a beautiful setting with wonderful views and has excellent facilities for members. Here we have a large number of hives for new beekeepers to obtain the experience and help that they need before starting out on their own.
We hold Practical Courses for both beginners and not so new beekeepers at Birtley in a purpose built facility. The Theory Courses are held at Shalford Village Hall. These courses provide the prospective new beekeepers with all the basic knowledge needed to get started in the craft.
Our next Theory Course will be starting on Thursday 7th January 2016 from 7.30 to 9.30pm and will run for 8 weeks. The Practical Course will follow on the 16th April 2016. Then members may purchase a nucleus of bees (subject to availability) and keep them there for up to a year until they feel confident working on their own. At this stage the Division will provide them with a mentor if they wish, so that they have someone to refer to for any further help and guidance. These courses get booked very quickly and anyone interested should register their interest as soon as possible.
The Division also holds “Taster Days” at the apiary in Bramley during the summer where you can come along just for the day and get a feel for beekeeping. All cloth- ing and equipment is provided for these. These days are announced on our website and should be booked in advance www.guildfordbeekeepers.org.uk
The Division also provides the service to the local area of swarm collecting. Anyone who thinks that they have a swarm of honey bees should go to the Division’s website at www.guildfordbeekeepers.org.uk and click on “Swarms”. Please note that we only deal with honey bees.
The honey bee is greatly endangered as most people will know from recent publicity, so if you feel like be- coming a beekeeper and helping these wonderful pol- linators to survive please contact our chairman, Jane Hall, on
Can you please send me details of the beginners starting 7 January and how much it costs
Best regards
Steve McCann