A DAY AT THE APIARY

Visit our apiary and immerse yourself in the incredible world of our pollinators.

Did you know that there are more than 250 species of bee in the UK? Or that three-quarters of commercial crops globally depend on insect pollination?

Spend a day with us at Deans Barn to learn fascinating facts like these, plus you’ll get to be a beekeeper with a protective suit and meet our colonies for yourself. You will be invited to enjoy a delicious lunch from the garden, and a chance to try our raw honey.

A visit to Deans Barn is your chance to immerse yourself in nature. Alfriston, our main apiary, will transport you from the hustle bustle of life to the buzzing activity of the hive. It really is a chance to switch off completely away from the busy modern world.

You’ll leave feeling refreshed and revitalised, with new knowledge you can put into practice to make your own garden a haven for pollinators like bees – which couldn’t be more important with populations declining.

We have disabled access for those who need it.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED
TO KNOW

  • All you need to bring are tall Wellington boots, and a reusable bottle for water. We will provide bee suits, personal protective equipment (PPE) and lunch.

  • You can drive to Deans Barn, and we have plenty of parking.

    Our nearest train stations are Lewes and Seaford. Cuckmere buses run services from both towns to our village, Alfriston. Uber is also available from Lewes.

  • Our beekeepers will guide you through how to safely handle bees.

    We will ask you to complete and return a disclaimer before the experience.

    Please ensure you bring any necessary medication you may need, and alert us of any allergies you have before you arrive.

    No known anaphylaxis to bee stings at the apiary.

  • Occasionally, we may need to cancel an experience because of severe bad weather. This will be at the discretion of Deans Barn Ltd. If we decide we cannot go ahead with the experience for this reason, we will offer you the choice of rebooking or a refund.

  • Yes! We will have Deans Barn Honey products available to buy. Take a look at our products here.

  • A day at the apiary is available from June to September.

    We sell our products all year round at the Lewes Friday Food Market and from Deans Barn itself.

  • British Beekeepers Association (BBKA)
    https://www.bbka.org.uk

    Eastbourne Beekeepers Association (EBKA)
    https://www.beekeeper.org.uk

    Beesabroad
    https://www.beesabroad.org.uk

    Honeyguild
    https://honeyguild.co.uk/

    Abelo
    https://www.abelo.co.uk

    Techtron
    https://www.techtrongroup.co.uk

  • A day at the apiary lasts from 10am to 3.00pm. There will be a maximum of 8 people in your group, and our experienced beekeepers will guide you through:

    • The different species of bee we have at Deans Barn

    • Interesting facts about bees, beekeeping and their huge impact on our environment

    • Watch a demonstration of how we make our foundation frames for our hives

    • Honey tasting

    • How you can make your garden more inviting to pollinators

    • Lunch from Deans Barn garden

    You’ll have a chance to put on a beekeeping suit (provided by us) and glimpse inside our hives too. 

    Lunch is included in the experience, made from produce from our Deans Barn’s. Some of our specialities include soups, stews, curries and salads.

  • A day at the apiary is £90 per person. We do not offer concessions.

  • Absolutely! We know beekeeping has huge benefits for young people, including getting them outside, away from technology, and improving their mental health and wellbeing.

    We are passionate about reaching as many teenagers as possible to let them experience beekeeping. We offer substantial discounts for school and youth groups.

    Find out more on our page for school/youth groups. 

    Please note, the minimum age to take part in a day at the apiary is 12.

  • Please fill in our booking form with your details and preferred dates, and we will get back to you to arrange your visit.

  • Please book a date using our online form. We do not offer the experience every day, so we will not be able to accommodate walk-in visitors.

  • Lunch will include meals prepared with seasonal produce from Deans Barn’s garden. This could be anything from curries, to soups, to salads etc.

  • Yes there are toilet facilities available.

  • Participants need to be 12 years old or above.

MORE ABOUT DEANS BARN

Find out more about where Deans Barn began and our ethos.

WHERE TO BUY OUR HONEY

Find out where our honey is available or buy online.