TOP HOTEL RUNS URBAN BEEKEEPING COURSES
One top London city centre hotel is now a hive of activity for training bee enthusiasts.
Not only are the bees in permanent residence there but their flying workers also benefit the whole community surrounding St Ermin’s Hotel in Westminster.
Urban beekeeping on the third floor terrace at St Ermin’s hotel in London.
The hotel’s third floor terrace is home to 350,000 honeybees housed within six hives looked after by Apiarist Camilla Gooddard of Capital Bee who will be running seven speciality bee workshops at the hotel in 2019.
Camilla who also has other groups of hives around London is holding a series of taster urban beekeeping workshops during the summer months at St Ermin’s.
Urban hotel honey made by the hard working bees at St Ermin’s hotel in Westminster.
The neighbourhood also gets to reap the rewards of the bees as they fly around the nearby Royal gardens, parks and patios of the surrounding homes, businesses and offices pollinating plants as they head out from the hotel hives.
Camilla with hive and the bee B&B
A series of 2 hour workshops will outline the complexities of bee society and behaviour highlighting the close relationship between bees and flowers. Plus giving guidance on what to plant, when and where and how best to site hives in gardens or on allotments.
Close up of a bee colony.
Participants in the courses will get real hands-on experience handling bees, managing their hives and even collecting raw honey.
Camilla Goddard said; “The St Ermin’s six active hives are doing well again this year, producing on average 25lb of honey each year, helped by the fantastic range of flora in the surrounding royal gardens and parks. London’s only Bee & Bee at the hotel is also doing well, providing a welcoming stopover for solitary bees and a host of other friendly creepy crawlies!”
A London city centre hotel is the centre for urban beekeeping courses.
The courses will be held on 20th April, 11th May, 25th May, 10th August, 21st August, 21st September and 5th October 2019.
Homes for solitary bees as well so its a Bee and Bee too!
There is a growing trend for urban beekeeping around London and the hotel is happy to support it and has also recently installed its very own roof kitchen garden.
Of course plenty of bee-friendly plants are growing for the colony to gather nectar from as well as producing tasty home grown treats for use in the hotel’s restaurant, The Caxton Grill.
The terrace also has a new working area for greenhouses and space to grow fresh, fruits, vegetables and herbs.
