Everything you ever wanted to know about bees is covered in this workshop. Indeed, everything you ever wanted to know about honey is too. This is a hands-on immersive experience designed to introduce the layman to life inside the hive from a bee’s perspective.

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

Bees. You will be learning about how they differ from other species, their behaviour, and the role they play in our ecosystem. Learn how to spot the Queen, the heart of the hive, and her crucial role in their survival. Don’t worry about stings—you will be suited and booted as you get up close and personal, and see firsthand how brood, drone brood, and drones develop.

Taste honey directly from the comb and discover that honey is more than just a sweet treat. There’s some sampling involved too—at least five varieties will come under close inspection, as you begin to understand the complexity of this sweet delicacy. Why is Manuka so special? The beekeepers of the Manchester Honey Company will explain all.

The plants visited by the bees vary from year to year, and like fine wine, the flavours of each batch reflect this, changing the taste of the honey too.

TELL ME MORE

This is 3 hours spent in the company of bees and their keeper. The only reason a day might be cancelled is bad weather—bees don’t like it (now there’s something you’ve learnt already!)—but you will be offered an alternative time. Gareth is your host, a man with a passion for bees and their products. The health of the colony is his priority, so he chooses not to treat his bees with chemicals or substitute their stores with sugar syrup—more of that on the day.

Engage with the bees—they are, after all, indispensable pollinators. Here’s another bee fact: the workers never stop and are all female. They clean the hive, take care of the larvae, gather pollen, and defend the colony from predators. They don’t live long.

THE ALL IMPORTANT DETAILS

• Manchester M32
• Available monthly on a Saturday or Sunday -  May to August
• 3 hours
• Small groups up to 6 people
• Over 16s only

HOW DOES IT WORK?

All you have to do is pay for the gift experience you wish to purchase. We’ll send a voucher including booking information to you or directly to the recipient. You or your recipient needs to check the information on the voucher and book your experience date.