My first time
As millions of students are currently heading back to their studies, it’s the perfect time of year for us all to learn a new skill. Three readers tried something completely different as part of GH’s My First Time series
After growing up with fresh honey from her beekeeping neighbour, Sonal Keay, 44, from Cirencester, was inspired to turn her hand to the hobby herself.
Growing up in rural Lincolnshire, my childhood was spent immersed in nature. We lived next door to a beekeeper, and my sister and I were fascinated with the beehives. Often, we’d walk across the garden and our neighbour would spend time with us, showing us where the bees lived and how honey was made, before sending us away with a pot of it for ourselves. At home, my mum would cook with it or drizzle it into warm milk to soothe us when we were poorly.
As an adult, I’m still passionate about the natural world. I now live in Cirencester with my husband and children, where I run a silk business.
I’ve spent years admiring beekeeping. There are lots of beekeepers in the area, so we only buy locally made honey – you can’t beat it. But, I thought, if they can do it, I can, too! Some people feel nervous around bees, but ahead of my lesson with beekeeper Harry Hazlem, I didn’t feel anxious at all – just excited. I remembered how gentle the bees were when I was a child. They won’t sting unless threatened.
When I arrived on the grounds of Notgrove Estate in Gloucestershire – where Harry looks after bees and makes honey – it was the lush greenery that hit me first. Then we put on protective suits and Harry walked me over to his beehives, which vary in size depending on how big the colonies are.
Harry showed me how to use a smoker, which dampens the bees’pheromones to calm them. Then, he lifted the lid of the first hive and I peered inside. Beneath thousands of bees, I could see the golden honeycomb glistening. The gentle hum of the bees was reassuring; it reminded me of my childhood.
While Harry talked me through the hive and the roles of the bees and equipment, he lifted a frame of honeycomb and passed it to me to hold. Seeing the bees up close was incredible. They hatch from tiny eggs, which look like grains of rice. I spotted a few that would soon emerge.
We moved on to the next hive and Harry demonstrated how to take it apart. I followed suit, taking a closer look. Once we found the queen bee, we resealed the box. This has to be done carefully – just a millimetre out of
