Our association was approached back in 2021 by the charity organisation Food Behind Bars. They wanted our help to give training to Swinfen prison staff to become beekeepers, who would then in turn pass on their knowledge to the inmates.
We embraced the challenge and in 2022 five staff members attended our beginners winter course with one also completing the 17 week summer course. Along with the training we also visited the prison on a number of occasions to supply two colonies of bees, site hives within the grounds and give a talk to staff and inmates. We demonstrated how to conduct a hive inspection and gave them the opportunity to handle frames.
Hopefully with the commitment and encouragement of Swinfen staff, skills will be learnt and some new beekeepers will emerge.
