With Britain's bees continuing to face major challenges, the St Ermin's Hotel, Westminster will be holding a series of taster urban beekeeping workshops during the Chelsea Fringe led by bee guru, Camilla Goddard of Capital Bee. The popular workshops will be held on Saturdays 16th and 30th April; 7th and 21st May, with more to follow in September during the hotel's annual 'honey month'. Two options will be available to book – the 2.5 hour workshop plus speciality honey cocktail in the Caxton Bar at £30pp or the course with delicious afternoon tea in the hotel's Tea Lounge at £45pp.

Having nurtured the St Ermin's 300,000 strong colony of Buckfast honey bees for the past few years, Camilla is keen to demonstrate how small actions by all of us can make a big difference for our buzzy friends:

“It's been a tough few years for these small but immensely industrious creatures – simple steps in our garden planting to provide year round forage can make a huge difference,” she said. 

“The St Ermin's six active hives are currently doing well, producing on average 25lb of honey each year, helped by the fantastic range of flora in the surrounding royal gardens and parks. It's been a very strange, warm winter and we're waiting to see how this affects colony come spring - but early signs seem positive. London's only Bee & B at the hotel  is also doing well, providing a welcoming stopover for solitary bees and a host of other friendly creepy crawlies!”

The 2.5-hour workshops outline the complexities of bee society and beehaviour; highlight the close relationship between bees and flowers and give guidance on what to plant, when and where and how best to site hives in gardens or allotments. Participants also visit London's first 'Bee & B' hotel on the hotel's third floor wildflower terrace to get real hands-on experience handling bees, managing their hives and collecting raw honey*.

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For further information, visuals or review requests please contact WixHill on + 44 (0) 1483 203992. Danielle West e: dani@wixhill.co.uk | Tim Fordham – Moss e: tim@wixhill.co.uk

Notes for Editors:

 * This is an outdoor terrace planted with indigenous, bee friendly plants, housing four hives and the new 'Bee & B' hotel. Hotel guests are able to view the bees through glass walls on the third floor walkway corridor. All workshop participants are provided with full bee keeping suits and gloves.

St Ermin's Hotel Property Highlights:

- Excellent location – around the corner from St James' Park tube – minutes from Buckingham Palaceand the Houses of Parliament

- Award winning restaurant Adam Handling at Caxtonon site (adamhandlingatcaxton.co.uk)

- Third floor terrace Bee Hives – home to over 300,000 Buckfast Bees and London's only Bee & Bee

- Fantastic family stay packages including 'Budding Bond' spy kits and kids afternoon teas 

- Beautiful selection of seasonal Afternoon Teas, served in one of London's pretties Tea Lounges

- Stunning ballroom and event spaces, showcasing dazzling chandeliers and magnificent plasterwork

- State of the art meetings facilities and private rooms

- Special wedding packages and wedding party events

- Fantastic range of rooms and suites

- Member of the Considerate Hoteliers organisation.

About Autograph Collection Hotels:

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