Who we are
Colin and Ian have been friends for over 35 years. Both where employees of Cadburys.
Colins' love of beekeeping started at and early age and he is a highly experienced beekeeper.
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This escalated to a joint venture in 2012 centered around “Apiary350”, on Bournville Village Trust land. The Trust have constructed the Apiary at their head office, and the first colonies arrived in June 2013. This has been followed up by the Trust, who provided a second Apiary for the 2014 season.
2014 saw us securing a new “Out Apiary” at Wythall, courtesy of Simon Beckett (Becketts Farm). This allows us to manage our bee movements in our urban apiaries as it is three miles away from our Bournville Apiaries.
The creation of "Bournville Beekeepers" allows us to finance the hobby, and not keep referring to ourselves as Colin and Ian.
We are a "Not for Profit" organisation. ALL of our funds from sales and experience days is used for the upkeep and saving of bee colonies
Colin Hawkings
Head Beekeeper and Director
My interest in honey bees came about after watching a program on TV a long, long time ago. This lead to a fascination for homey bees which was fuelled by a great friend and beekeeper Morris Butler who sadly passed away some years ago. If it wasn't for Morris I don't think I would have necessarily started my beekeeping and had the courage To have bought my first nucleus of bees when I was just 20 years old...I have been boring people with bee stories ever since! This first purchase has lead to my never ending fascination for these mysterious little creatures and has a resulted in me meeting so many fantastic people (characters) over the years.
Beekeeping has opened doors to some great adventures and friendships over the years, and is something I would not have wanted to miss. My day job in IT for over 40 years could not have been more far removed from beekeeping. The bees were a great escape.
As my great friend Ian will vouch, I love to show and share my passion for bees with people and I love our Apiary Days with potential Beekeepers or just people who are interested to know more about being a beekeeper and the mysterious and fascinating world of bees. I am keen to pass on my knowledge and enthusiasm to help educate people in the importance of our honey bees and to hopefully start keeping bees themselves.
I would like to thank my wife for all her support and patience over the years, she always refers herself to being a “Bee Widow”.
Ian Baker
Beekeeper , Finance Director
I am a family man married to Mary with 4 children and 2 grandchildren.
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Working in I.T Service industry since 1984 that's still my day job.
Beekeeping gives me an outlet not only for my environmental concerns, but allows me to meet the general public, promoting pollinators and insects. Hopefully alleviating worries people have about swarms and bees in general.
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I get involved in all aspects of the business, but take a lead role in our IT requirements and finance activities.
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I have always had pet dogs and my latest 3, Minnie, Button and Nacho are all rescue dogs, and I have put a couple of links here should you like to follow them
Mary Baker
Director
I am married to Ian.
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NOT a beekeeper, but take part in the honey production, uncapping, spinning, jarring and labelling.
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Usually partnering Ian if he is collecting a swarm, or rescuing bumble bees.
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Mascots
Minnie, Button & Nacho
Minnie is a Dogs Trust Rescue. Rescued as a puppy, she is a Cairn cross Yorkshire Terrier
Button is an Animal House Rescue. Button is a Bichon Frise cross Pomeranian
Nacho is an Animal House Rescue. He is a Long Haired Chihuahua
