TO bee or not to bee?

That is the question being asked by a group of Wirral keepers who are hoping to attract more people to take an interest in their craft.

Wirral Beekeepers was formed in 1961 and is one of the five branches which makes up the Cheshire Beekeepers’ Association.

Members are currently appealing for more people to join the "buzzness" of beekeeping, with a course of beginner classes due to start this month at Heswall’s Dale Farm.-

Programme secretary Doug Jones said: “Beekeeping is a fascinating hobby, people have been keeping bees for hundreds of years.

“You can keep bees in your garden, but some beekeepers keep them on allotments subject to council permission.”

You wouldn’t bee-lieve how many benefits bees bring through pollinating plants, flowers and trees.

Around a third of our food is pollination dependent, with the average bee colony –containing 50,000 bees – helping to pollinate 4,000 square metres of fruit trees.

Doug, who started beekeeping in 1975 and currently has 10 hives at his home in Heswall, said: “There are multiple uses for products of the hive. The obvious is candle making out of the surplus beeswax, beeswax polish, cosmetics, mead making if it is a good vintage for drinking.”

The Introduction to Beekeeping course – held each year – starts on Saturday, February 21 at 10am.

The courses are designed to provide beginners with the knowledge of how to handle bees and learn the skills needed to work with them safely and have hives of their own, as well as covering topics including bee diseases.

Classes continue on February 28, March 14, March 21 and finish on March 28.

The final lesson will see budding keepers get to grips with the art.

“We will lend you a bee suit and open some bee hives so you can get hands-on experience handling the bees,” explained Doug.

“Wirral Beekeepers will help you acquire bees, hives, and beekeeping equipment.

“We do have a training apiary in Ness Gardens where we hold further beekeeping lessons after you have completed the course at Dale Farm.”

All lessons include light refreshments and last for two hours. The cost of five lessons at Dale Farm is £50.

To book onto the course contact the group’s education officer, John Hebron, on 0151 648 3744 or email jdgh1@btinternet.com.

Visit wirralbeekeepers.co.uk for more information.