GALLERY
Get to know us better by taking a look at some of our photos
Apiary Development – June 2025
Exciting progress at the apiary this month! 🛠🐝
We've been working hard on improvements to support our growing number of colonies, and we're pleased to share the installation of new permanent hive stands. These sturdy, level platforms will make inspections safer and more efficient — for both the beekeepers and the bees!
A big thank you to everyone who lent a hand in getting them in place. Another step forward in the continued development of our apiary.
More to come! To see what else is happening in the apiary - visit our Apiary Page
A Day in the Apiary – May 2025
A beautiful, sunny Saturday at the apiary with the Derry and District Beekeepers. ☀️🐝
It was a busy and rewarding day — a real glimpse into the daily rhythm of life in the apiary.
📸 We were delighted to welcome photographer Martin McKeown from NWRC, who captured 63 fantastic images throughout the day.
Highlights included:
Carefully smoking the hives before inspection to keep the bees calm and cooperative 🔥🐝
Beekeepers deep in hive inspections, checking colony health and progress
A lovely teaching moment with Barney guiding one of our new members on how to spot eggs and brood – vital signs of a healthy, growing colony
A striking image of our red-marked queen bee – a real beauty! ❤️
Frames full of worker bees and larger drone bees, busy as ever
Close-up shots of developing queen cells 👑
Thanks to everyone who came along and contributed to the day – and of course, to the bees for being such patient photo stars!
To see what else is happening in our apiary please check out the apiary page
World Bee Day 2025
Click here to go from our gallery to the article page about World Bee Day at the NWRC.
Funding 2025
We're really pleased to have the support of the River Ridge Environmental Trust, in partnership with the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland. Their backing is helping to fund our project - a solar wax extractor.
To learn more about the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, just click the green image to the left of this text.
Our Class of 2025
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on the course. It's been a pleasure getting to know you over the six weeks. We hope we've sparked a lasting interest in beekeeping and look forward to seeing many of you in the apiary soon.
We're also incredibly grateful to our DDBKA members who helped deliver the course, sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm each week. Special thanks to John Cartin and the team at NWRC - the top notch location and facilities made it possible to offer such a successful and enjoyable experience.
Check out our instagram and facebook page for some more course content.
Check out our Apiary page if you want to see more of our Apiary development.
Apiary Spring Clean April 2025
After a stormy winter, we were treated to one of the sunniest springs in recent memory. Our members took full advantage of the good weather, rolling up their sleeves to give the apiary a spring clean in preparation for the busy beekeeping season ahead.
There was plenty to tackle:
It was a hive of activity, and the apiary is looking fantastic ready for the season to come. We're so grateful to everyone who pitched in. Special thanks to Leonie, Glenn and Mickey for capturing the clean up days in photos.
To check out latest updates on our apiary - visit our apiary page
Introduction to Beekeeping Course 2025
We are proud to announce our 2025 "Introduction to Beekeeping Course" at the NorthWest Regional College.
A six week part time course at the Springtown campus; providing the necessary knowledge and skills to get established in beekeeping.
For more info email John.cartin@nwrc.ac.uk
or click https://www.nwrc.ac.uk/courses/introduction-to-beekeeping
Queen Rearing using the Nicot Cupkit System
A number of queen cells being drawn on the cell raiser frame - harvested using the Nicot Cupkit System.
To check out more information on our queen rearing group - check out our Queen rearing page
A great turn out at Brook Hall Estate & Gardens Open Days, Saturday15th and Sunday 16th.
We have colonies of Native Irish Black Bees on the estate. This has allowed us to have our observation hive on show to see inside a beehive.
Despite the weather on day 2, it didn’t dampen our spirits. Lots of smiling faces, honey tasting and informing people about the Native Irish Black Honey Bee, including the Mayor of Derry, Lilian Seenoi Barr.
Thank you to all who came to our stall and thank you to Brook Hall Estate and Gardens for having us.
Great Weekend!
Hover over image to see arrows to move slide show along --->
Thank you to Thomas from Donegal Bees who attended our meeting on Wednesday.
An informative and enjoyable night learning about CDB hives, section honey production and beekeeping in the Glencolmcille area of Donegal.
Can anyone guess where the beehives are?
Beekeepers Barney and Thomas were busy this week setting up bees on top of a Roof in Derry. They’ve got a great view!
Colourful bee hive!
Bee hive painted by a group called "Minding Mum" from the Waterside, Derry.
Kindly submitted by Liam Nelis.
Before the Easter break, beekeepers Barney and Thomas created a bit of Buzz when they visited Culmore Primary School to take part in their topic “It’s a Bugs Life”.
It's always a pleasure to visit schools and talk to the children about Bees and Beekeeping.
Year 3/4/5 had a busy 🐝afternoon learning all about bee keeping, as part of our topic ‘It’s a Bug’s Life’. Thank you so much to our fantastic visitors, Barney and Thomas. We enjoyed every minute of it 😃🐝 and learnt so, so much 😃
A great turnout last Wednesday28th Feb for the talk by Mark Wallace.
A new season starts at the apiary by checking the bees for food stores.
Feb 2024, still too cold to do an inspection, but on a good day the roofs can be removed to top up with fondant if necessary.
Members visiting the proposed apiary at
Acorn Farm, St Columb's Park
Our 2nd Open Day, May 2022.
What a day !! great craic, a constant flow of visitors, plenty of coffee and tray bakes, a dozen or more took up the offer to go into the apiary and were "buzzn" that they had, so much so we have a few new members. Big thanks has to go to all of our members who worked hard to pull it all together, we hope to do it all again very soon, see you then.
Click here for more photos of the day.
Click here to see photos of our first Open Day, August 14, 2021, to showcase the revamped apiary thanks to Connect 2021.
How’s this for beautifully painted boxes, from Liam Nelis St. Columbs Park House, who has just completed our preliminary beekeeping course.
It’s a hard graft! And requires some concentration. But our queen rearing is going well and we’re looking forward to starting the NIHBS programme queen rearing after practising with our own.
Some of our preliminary students celebrating their exam results and doing a bit of beekeeping too!
The celebratory chocolate cake made by member Paul Burley from Ethical Weigh was enjoyed with tea and coffee.
Hard at work erecting stands for queen rearing in the association's new out apiary, on a cold November day.
DONT WASTE YOUR WAX - Trade it in
On right, what £682.90 of wax foundation looks like.
On left, block of rendered down wax being prepared.
For 60lbs of wax and £167.64 including £34.00 of postage Thomas netted £8.59/lb and if the wax was exchanged at the Conference it would have netted £9.16/lb.
Dave Atherton's solar wax extractor Mark 2 anyone interested in more detail, get in touch,
Dave is happy to do a Masterclass.
Click
here to download a copy.
Uniting a 14x12 queenright Nuc with a 14x12 box. Homemade uniting board to accommodate the Nuc which has a removable base.
Billy Chambers working with bees and beginners
Here’s a pic of Cathy Mclaughlin, preliminary student about to do her first colony inspection.
Where to find us:
Derry & District Beekeepers' Association
Brooke Park Apiary
Derry
We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
