Name: Hands-on Beekeeping Experience
SKU: 15903
Price: 125.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Experience beekeeping in a traditional Irish cottage garden, where our native Irish honey bees play a vital part of the homestead ecosystem.

Surrounded by flowers, herbs, fruit and seasonal kitchen garden produce, this hands-on experience takes guests through the pollinator-rich garden and into the apiary to observe how bees make honey, from flower to jar.

Gain an insight into a slower, more connected way of living while learning about bees, pollination, and traditional honey production as part of everyday life in a working cottage garden.

Date

Beekeeping Experience Gift Voucher
Sunday 23 August - Morning Experience

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Description

Experience beekeeping and the intricate world of the honey bee in a traditional Irish cottage garden on the outskirts of Cork, where our native Irish honey bees play a vital part of the homestead ecosystem.

This small-group, hands-on beekeeping experience invites guests to step into a working apiary, harvest honey straight from the hive, and jar their own freshly extracted honey to take home.

Along the way, tour the pollinator-rich garden and observe bees working among flowers, herbs, fruit and seasonal kitchen garden produce. Learn about pollination, bee behaviour, seasonal honey production, and the essential role bees play in supporting biodiversity and food production.

Designed for adults and older children (14+), this seasonal experience combines practical beekeeping with an insight into a slower, more connected way of living within a working cottage garden.

Approximately 3 hours
Small groups only
Seasonal: April–September
Includes honey tasting and light refreshments
Take home your own jar of freshly extracted honey

Request a private booking or alternative date

Looking for a private group tour or can’t find a date that suits?

We offer private experiences for families, friends, corporate groups and clubs. Email us with your preferred date and group size and we’ll get back to you with availability.

[email protected]

The Experience

Welcome to the Garden

Begin your visit with a warm welcome in the cottage garden and greenhouses, with homemade cordials, herbal teas, and seasonal refreshments served among flowers, herbs and pollinator-friendly planting.

Learn about the bees, the garden, and the important role pollinators play within the wider homestead ecosystem, with plenty of opportunity for questions throughout the experience.

Observation Hive & Bee Talk

Discover the inner workings of a honey bee colony through the observation hive while learning about bee behaviour, pollination, seasonal honey production, and how bees transform nectar into honey.

A short introduction to beekeeping equipment, hive safety, and the seasonal rhythms of the apiary will prepare you before entering the apiary.

Step Into the Apiary

Suit up and step into a working apiary for a close-up look inside a living honey bee colony.

Observe bees carrying pollen, building comb, caring for brood and storing honey while experiencing the scent, sound and activity of the hive throughout the season. There may also be an opportunity to spot the queen bee and identify different stages of bee life within the colony.

During the in-hive experience, guests will also harvest honey directly from the hive for extraction.

From Hive to Jar

Take part in extracting freshly harvested honey before jarring your own honey to take home.

The experience concludes with a guided tasting of seasonal honeys, time for questions, and an opportunity to browse the Hanna’s Bees collection.

Start Times

Morning Experiences

Morning experiences typically begin at 10:30am and finish at approximately 1:30pm.

Afternoon Experiences

Afternoon experiences typically begin at 3:30pm and finish at approximately 6:30pm.

What's Included

Guided throughout by beekeeper, educator and native Irish honey bee advocate Hanna Bäckmo
Full beekeeper supervision and guidance throughout the experience
Protective bee suit, veil and gloves provided
Hands-on access to a working apiary
Opportunity to help harvest and extract honey during the honey flow
Guided honey tasting featuring seasonal and floral varieties
Homemade cordials, herbal teas and light seasonal refreshments
Your own jar of freshly extracted honey to take home
Small group experience with plenty of opportunity for questions
Access to browse and purchase from the Hanna’s Bees collection

How to get here

Hanna’s Bees is located at Clash Cottage, Clash Road, Little Island, Co. Cork, T45 YX68.

By Car

Free parking is available on site. Hanna’s Bees is located just off the N25 and is easily accessible from Cork City, East Cork and surrounding areas.

By Train

Little Island Train Station is the nearest station and is serviced regularly from Cork Kent Station via the Cork–Cobh and Cork–Midleton commuter lines. The walk from the station to Hanna’s Bees is approximately 20 minutes.

By Bus

Cork Connect routes 210 and 211 both service Little Island and stop near Eastgate and Little Island Train Station, approximately a 10–15 minute walk from Hanna’s Bees depending on the stop selected.

By Bicycle

Hanna’s Bees can also be reached by bicycle from Cork City, Glounthaune and East Cork using the cycle route and greenway connections linking the area.

Important Information

Suitability

Suitable for adults and children aged 14+
Moderate mobility is required, including walking on uneven ground and standing for periods of time
This experience is not suitable for individuals with a known severe bee sting allergy

Clothing & Safety

Protective bee suits, veils and gloves are provided
Please wear long sleeves, full-length trousers and sturdy boots or wellingtons
Avoid wearing strong perfumes, heavily scented lotions or aftershave when visiting the apiary

Booking

Full payment is required at the time of booking.
Public bookings may be cancelled up to 48 hours before the experience for a full refund.
Cancellations and changes made within 48 hours of the experience are non-refundable. Non-attendance is also non-refundable. Requests to transfer a booking to another date are considered at the sole discretion of Hanna’s Bees and are subject to availability.
As places are limited and group sizes are intentionally kept small, we kindly ask that you respect our booking and cancellation policy.

Weather

Experiences may be rescheduled at short notice due to unsuitable weather.

Site & Atmosphere

Small group sizes are intentionally limited to preserve the quality of the experience and minimise disruption to the bees
Toilet facilities are available on site
Parking and arrival information will be provided after booking
Photography is welcome throughout the experience, although we kindly ask guests to be mindful that not everyone may wish to be photographed
As this is a working homestead and productive garden, chickens, ducks and friendly dogs may occasionally be present during the experience. We kindly ask visitors to respect the garden, animals and growing spaces throughout their visit
Experiences are intentionally relaxed and unhurried, with plenty of opportunity for questions throughout

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need beekeeping experience?

Not at all. This experience is designed for complete beginners as well as those with a general interest in bees, gardening, food production or nature.

How many people are in each group?

Group sizes are intentionally kept small, with a maximum of 10 participants, to create a relaxed and personal experience while minimising disruption to the bees.

Is the experience suitable for children?

The experience is suitable for adults and children aged 14+ due to the hands-on nature of the apiary and the length of the visit. We also offer separate experiences and educational visits designed specifically for younger children and families.

Will we see the queen bee?

There is often an opportunity to spot the queen bee during hive inspections, although this cannot be guaranteed as every colony behaves differently throughout the season.

What is included in the experience?

Your visit includes beekeeper guidance, protective clothing, hands-on hive access, honey tasting, light refreshments, and your own jar of freshly extracted honey to take home.

What should I wear?

Please wear long sleeves, full-length trousers and sturdy boots or wellingtons suitable for walking on uneven ground and visiting the apiary.

Will I get stung?

While every precaution is taken and protective clothing is provided, this is a real working apiary and bee stings are possible. Following guidance and moving calmly around the apiary greatly reduces the likelihood of being stung.

Can I take photographs?

Yes, photography is welcome throughout the experience. We kindly ask guests to be mindful that not everyone may wish to be photographed.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Experiences may be rescheduled at short notice during periods of poor weather or low bee activity to ensure both guest safety and bee welfare.

Is this a private experience?

Public visits are shared in small groups to preserve the quality of the experience and minimise disruption to the bees. Private group bookings for families, friends or small groups are available on request. Simply email [email protected]

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Hands-on Beekeeping Experience