They’re amazing creatures.

And if the plight of the humble bee has you wishing you could do more to help ensure these vital pollinators survive as their natural habitats and food sources disappear, a new night course could provide a fascinating insight into their life cycle.

Mark Riordan is teaching the eight-week Hive Mind Beekeeping Course at St John’s College in the city centre this autumn. Open to all ages, there are two Thursday sessions to choose from weekly, one from 6pm to 7.30pm and another from 7.30pm to 9pm.

The course provides its participants with a foundation in the practice of beekeeping, using classroom demonstrations, videos and photographs to illustrate the lifecycle of the honeybee.

A Department of the Environment study found that bees are worth €53m a year to the Irish economy. In fact, crops such as apples, strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, blackcurrants, peppers, courgettes and pumpkins are reliant on bees for pollination.

With celebrities getting in on the act during the lockdown (Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson have their own hives) there is also a growing trend in creating garden apiaries as a hobby.

“Keeping bees may seem complicated but with guidance and learning it is a lesson worth learning,” says Mark.

“This eight-week course aims to equip our students with the knowledge and confidence to manage their own hive.”

The cost of the course is €140 and you can sign up online here or email Mark.riordan@stjohnscollege.ie for further information.