What to expect from the mentoring program at Orpington Beekeepers
Keeping bees is a fascinating and challenging activity. Every time you open/inspect a hive you may discover a new challenge or a new problem to be solved. As a beekeeper it is your job to recognise when things need adjustment in the colony and to take the right corrective action: maybe the colony is preparing to swarm, maybe it needs more space, maybe the queen has died unexpectedly, or maybe there are not enough stores – the list goes on!
To support new beekeepers through the early learning phases, Orpington Beekeepers offers a variety of support activities which can take you from being a complete novice to having a small apiary of your own.
- Orpington Beekeepers are blessed with a fantastic apiary at High Elms Country Park, where we manage a number of colonies. If you are interested in learning more about beekeeping then you can arrange to come along, borrow a spare bee suit & gloves from us, and join us as we inspect the colonies. This can be a very good way to find out whether beekeeping might be for you and everyone is welcome with no experience necessary.
- An introduction to beekeeping course is held most years with a theory session in March and a practical session from May (covid permitting). Please do book if you are interested, as places are limited. Due to Covid restrictions the theory course will be held over zoom this year, so you will need a smartphone, tablet or PC to take part.
- We normally ask new beekeepers to attend this course, and for new beekeepers who are keen to go on afterwards to establish their own colonies, we will assign a mentor.
We visit the apiary every Saturday during late Spring/Summer, and bee handling and other demonstration sessions are available for new beekeepers. This will allow you to open a hive and perform a proper inspection with the guidance of an experienced beekeeper, who will talk you through what to look for and how to read the colony. We can also arrange demonstrations of frame building, honey extraction, lighting a smoker, or even queen rearing if there is demand. - As you become confident with the bees and feel ready to take on your own apiary, you can get advice from your mentor or other members of Orpington Beekeepers about the hardware and tools that you will need. There are choices about the style of hive you use, the bee suit you buy, etc. I have yet to meet a beekeeper without an opinion on these matters! You can also get advice on suitable locations to set up your hive considering sunlight/shade, flight-path, working access, public safety, etc.
- Once you have the necessary equipment, are a signed up member of Orpington beekeepers, and your mentor is confident that you can handle your own apiary, you can receive a swarm. You may even be asked to help collect the swarm.
This will be re-housed into your hive and you will have started your own apiary!
Note that the association normally makes a nominal charge per swarm (currently £10). This is significantly cheaper than buying a nucleus colony commercially. - Your mentor will likely help you establish your new colony, and work with you to ensure that the colony is developing as it should. This activity has to be on site in your apiary, as that is where your bees are. You will rely on the mentor less and less as you build in confidence. However Orpington Beekeepers are always a phone call or email away if help or advice is needed!
Finally, we are pretty flexible and pragmatic. The process described above is a guideline and not a hard and fast set of rules. If you are enthusiastic about bee keeping you will find many like-minded people at Orpington Beekeepers who are keen to help you develop your interest.
If you are interested in working with one of our mentors please contact our mentor coordinator
Tim Jennings
email mentoring @ orpingtonbeekeepers.org.uk, or
phone 07984 327 155