A GROWING enthusiasm for beekeeping has seen the numbers of people taking up the craft in the North-East double over the past year.

Such has been the interest, that Durham Beekeepers Association found it was struggling to cope with the increased demand for their courses.

Thanks to the help of a cash injection of £4,170 from County Durham Foundation’s Grassroots Grants scheme, the association’s group is accommodating up to 70 people on a newly-created beginners’ course.

Association chairman, John Bennington, said that the group aimed to promote the craft of beekeeping and honey production by arranging lectures and demonstrations.

He said: “As beekeeping can be an expensive hobby, we have been running a free course for a number of years, to encourage all people, even those on low incomes, to take up the interest.

“We had 40 people on the course last year and this year it has almost doubled to over 70.

“This grant has enabled us to purchase the starter hives, protective clothing, equipment and the literature needed to run the course for a larger group, as well as for accommodation for our equipment.”

The group, which meets monthly at Finchale Training College, Durham, provides practical help for beginners and professional diagnostic facilities in case of bee disease.

New beekeepers are also offered support through a mentor system.

The courses are run by apiary manager, Trevor Green, with the help of three volunteers.

Mr Bennington said: “What we are hoping to do is give some people live hives for £50.

And we want to increase our own hives to six colonies.”

Grassroots Grants is a Government scheme which County Durham Foundation is delivering in County Durham and Darlington.

The scheme was set up last July and will run until March 2011.

So far, in only 11 months, £487,000 has been given to 154 small, predominately volunteer- led, community groups which were struggling to access funding during the recession.

As part of this scheme County Durham Foundation was also given a pot of money that will match donations pound-for-pound from anyone who creates, or contributes to, a long-term fund to support grassroots projects.

County Durham Foundation is hoping to raise more than £1.2m for grassroots projects by March 2011, when the Match Challenge also finishes.

Anyone interested in supporting Grassroots projects and doubling their money, is asked to call Kate Brown or Barbara Gubbins at County Durham Foundation, on 0191- 383-0055.

For further information on the Durham Beekeepers Association, visit durham beekeepers.org Or contact Trevor Green on 0191-386-8851, or John Bennington on 01325-315395.