Bees are a fundamental component of successful growing, whether it’s vegetables, fruit or flowers that you’re planning to grow.
Bees pollinate the crops and ensure more successful yields. Local legend suggests that when the Tamar Valley was at its peak as a market gardening region, there were more apiaries in the valley than in any other part of the UK.
Tamar Grow Local is keen to support beekeepers and to help establish more apiaries throughout the valley.
Tamar Valley Honey Co-operative, based in Kelly Bray, is designed to provide low-cost equipment, a clean room for extraction, expertise and training for novice beekeepers, as well as helping producers to market their honey and bee-related products.
By providing access to equipment required for extraction, and helping members to sell their honey we hope to support the local beekeeping community and to increase the number of bees (and bee keepers) in the valley.
3-Day Bee-keeping for Beginners Course
9th, 10th & 11th June 2025 (Mon, Tue, Wed): £225 inc. VAT
Our 3-day bee-keeping courses are a combination of classroom studies and practical work in the apiary aimed at complete beginners. The aim is to provide the student with the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills to handle a colony of bees. On completion of the course participants should have the confidence to manage their own bees throughout the year.
Topics will include: the bee colony; hive types; equipment; setting up an apiary; the beekeeping year; swarming; pests and diseases; hive products and the practical handling of bees.
The cost includes membership of the Honey Co-operative and a £10 voucher which can be used for extraction, jars or sundries.
Please contact us at [email protected] for further details and to register your interest!