Beeble keeps 130 hives across our Wiltshire apiary, and several times a year we throw open the gate and let curious strangers find out what we found out: bees are far less frightening, and far more fascinating, than you think.
This is what a Beeble beekeeping day actually looks like, told by the people who run it.
Arriving at the Wiltshire apiary
You'll find us at Eastcourt House, tucked into the Cotswolds countryside with a walled garden and a view that does most of the relaxing for you before you've even arrived. Guests turn up a little early, usually clutching coffee and nervous energy in roughly equal measure.
To help you prepare for your first season, check out beekeeping tips for beginners.
Suiting up
Everyone gets kitted out in a full bee suit, veil included, whatever the weather is doing. There's a fair bit of laughing at this stage. Nobody looks their best in a bee suit, and we'd argue that's part of the fun.
We talk you through the basics before anyone goes near a hive:
- Why the veil matters more than the gloves
- How to move (slowly, and without flapping your arms about)
- What that smoker in Bill's hand is actually for
- Why bees sting defensively, not out of malice
By the time the suit's zipped up, most people have stopped worrying about being stung and started worrying about whether they'll spot the queen.
Opening your first hive
This is the moment the day earns its name. One of our beekeepers lifts the roof off a working hive while you stand close enough to feel the warmth rising off it.
There's a smell too, warm wax and honey, that photographs and YouTube videos never quite capture. Frame by frame, the hive gets lifted out and inspected, and you start to see the sheer organisation of the thing: brood, stores, and workers all going about clearly defined jobs.
Meeting the bees
Once the hive is open, you get to handle a frame yourself, gently, with someone experienced steadying your hand the first time. Ethical beekeeping is central to everything we do here, which means calm handling, minimal disruption, and never taking more than the colony can comfortably spare.
We usually take a break here too. A walks out to a second apiary, weather permitting, with someone pointing out exactly which wildflowers the bees are working that week.
Finding the queen
Somewhere in the middle of the day, the search begins. Spotting the queen among thousands of near-identical workers is trickier than it sounds, and there's always a genuine ripple of excitement when someone finally points and says "there, that's her."
We'll explain what marks her out (she's larger, moves differently, and the workers behave differently around her too), and why her health tells you almost everything about the health of the whole colony.
Extracting honey
Depending on the time of year, you may get to see, or even help with, honey extraction. Frames come out heavy and gleaming, and there's something properly satisfying about watching honey spin free and pool at the bottom of the extractor.
It's this exact process, using nothing but the surplus honey our bees can spare, that led one of our founders to soak the leftovers in whisky rather than let them go to waste.
What you leave with
Beyond the suit-shaped tan line and the stories, most guests leave with a proper working knowledge of how a hive actually functions, a jar of honey to take home, and usually lunch in them too. Past courses have wound down with cocktails, certificates, and more bee chat than anyone expected to have in them by the end of the day.
Book your day
Our Beekeeping Courses run at the Wiltshire apiary throughout the year, in partnership with The Idler. Spaces are limited, so it's worth booking ahead of the date you're eyeing up.
Not ready to commit to a full day yet? Have a browse of the Bee Blog for more from the hives.
