Native Beekeeping 101 with Ian Driver

Australia has around 2,000 native bee species, all playing their critical part in our uniquely Australian environment and ecosystems. With the ongoing loss of habitat, and other threats to our wildlife, we all have a role to play in protecting our precious bees.

Guided by native bee expert Ian Driver you will learn about some of our most popular and beautiful native bees, and how to attract them into your garden with plants and insect hotels. You will also see inside a native stingless bee hive and get to taste their amazing honey. This workshop will cover both our native solitary bees and our stingless bees, and options for keeping them in gardens or even on decks and verandas.

By the end of this workshop you will:

• Experience an interactive, entertaining presentation on our amazing Australian Native Bees

• Witness a stingless beehive split

• Construct your very own bee hotel for your garden

• Learn what will inhabit your bee hotel and what to look for

• Understand what plants attract native bees

• Taste the amazing native stingless bee honey

• Be provided with links to further learning resources

• Get a sample bag with information for you to start your bee journey

• Have an opportunity to buy various native bee products.

Join the community of native bee enthusiasts in the comprehensive and practical workshop with one of the nation's leading experts.

Youth Offer

This workshop is suitable for teenagers, accompanied by mum, dad or another adult guardian, who has also paid to attend the workshop.

About the Facilitator

Ian Driver is a Sunshine Coast based Australian native beekeeper and educator, and owner/operator of A Green Soul Native Bees.

Ian started his bee journey a number of years ago whilst turning his family life green, keen to make less of an impact on the planet and eat more home-grown fresh food. But to grow food you need bees to pollinate! And so a native bee hive was bought for the garden and the obsession started!

Through A Green Soul Native Bees Ian provides native bee products and services to customers throughout Southeast Queensland. He also manages a number of hives in kindergartens and schools where he runs education sessions for the students. Education is a big passion and Ian runs native beekeeping workshops across the region for the Australian Native Bee Association, community and council organisations, and the corporate sector. Ian is a Past President of the Australian Native Bee Association which advocates for the conservation of Australian native bees and for the sustainable development and growth of the native bee industry. He is currently on the executive as the Branch Liaison Officer. You can check out his website at www.agreensoul.com.au or follow his bee and garden activities through Facebook at A Green Soul or on Instagram a_green_soul.