Beekeeping Services
As a local Bee Farmer in Guildford, we provide various services such as:
- Safe collection of swarms and honeybee nests
- Guided tours of our Bee Farm
- Bee talks and School visits
- Bee demonstrations handling live honeybees
-- Training for aspiring beekeepers
- Pollination services to farms and land owners
- Beehives to private gardens and estates
Swarm and honeybee nests collection
We are always happy to come out and collect a swarm of honeybees. Some swarms can end up on a low tree branch while others can opt for more awkward places to nest, difficult to access. Swarms can move from one place to another in a matter of hours, so it is good to contact us as soon as you see one. We can then come and collect them before they take off again.
A swarm of bees is at the mercy of the weather and very sadly not many survive outdoors unless promptly collected and looked after.
We provide a brand new home: a wooden hive. We check the bees for signs of disease and feed them afterwards. We do not charge for the collection.
Guided tours of our Bee Farm
We offer guided tours of our Bee Farm, we show you our honey room where we extract honey using different pieces of machinery. In our barn there are several types of beehives and bee equipment we use to breed queens. You will be able to see the honeybees at work up close inside some specially modified beehives with glass panels. You will learn about the lifecycle of honeybees and the various challenges they face in order to survive, latest of which the Asian Hornet.
Tickets available from our Shop Page.
Bee talks and School visits
We offer talks on native honeybees and the challenging environment they live. We normally bring along an empty beehive so that we can explain all its different sections and components.
Similarly we visit Schools and talk to the children about the importance and role of honeybees. We believe it is quite an educational experience and we don't charge for this service.
Bee Demonstrations
We offer bee-demonstrations at different sites: in the first part, we talk about the life of honeybees throughout the year and explain the different sections and components of a typical beehive. In the second part, we put bee-suits and gloves on and we look at the honeybees up and close inside a beehive handling various frames with honey and bees. The whole experience lasts about one and a half hours.
Training of beekeepers
We run one day full-immersion beekeeping training courses: theory in the morning and plenty of hands-on practice in the afternoon. These are the main topics covered by the course: how a colony of honeybees is structured and operates; Beehives: different types, components and sections for each of them; lifecycle of a colony of honeybees throughout the year with corresponding tasks and responsibilities for the beekeeper; inspections: why and what to look for; Bee health; rearing your own queens; extracting honey; overwintering colonies; siting of an apiary.
We welcome back all participants about 4 weeks later for a catch-up session with any question or clarifications
they may need.
Pollination Services
We offer pollination contracts to orchards, farms and land owners in early Spring and throughout Summer.
We also supply colonies of honeybees for large polytunnels.
Beehive in your garden
We supply and maintain colonies of calm and docile honeybees to private gardens and estates.
We inspect the colonies on a regular basis, safeguarding the health and development of the bees throughout the year. It is a practical option for those people who perhaps do not have the time or knowledge to look after honeybees. Pollination of your garden is guaranteed and you will also receive some very local honey.