Delivery plan

Project plan

The first season has moved from setup and training through active hive management, harvesting and winter preparation.

2026 delivery

From preparation to first harvest.

The plan was deliberately practical: prepare people and site, establish colonies, learn to manage them safely, process the first crop and review what should happen next.

Jan–Apr 2026

Completed

Phase 1 – Training and preparation

People identified for practical beekeeping activity.
Training and mentoring arranged.
Hives, protective clothing, tools and core equipment purchased.
Apiary area prepared for safe use.

Feb–May 2026

Completed

Phase 2 – Apiary setup

Hives assembled and installed.
Colonies brought onto site with experienced support.
Early inspections documented.
Practical training moved from classroom concepts to live hive work.

Jun–Aug 2026

Completed

Phase 3 – Hive management and first processing

Regular inspections carried out through the active season.
Queen cells, brood, stores and colony strength monitored.
More than ten people introduced to the basics of beekeeping.
Six regular beekeepers established across three hives.
Food health and safety training completed before processing.
First harvest extracted, jarred and labelled, producing more than 100 jars.

Sep–winter 2026

Under way

Phase 4 – Overwintering and review

Colonies prepared for overwintering.
Season outcomes and lessons recorded.
Grant and project information kept available for members.
Interest gathered from people who would like to learn next season.
Plan the next cycle of training, inspections and practical involvement.

What success looks like now

A project that can keep teaching people.

The first year has created the equipment, confidence and routine needed for the apiary to continue beyond its setup phase. Honey is useful, but the durable outcome is a growing group of people able to work around the hives responsibly and teach others what they have learnt.

Introduced10+

people to practical beekeeping.

Regular team6

people tending hives together.

Working hives3

prepared for winter.

Next objectiveMore

people learning in season two.