IF you are interesting in the idea of keeping bees, this one could be for you.

The Brockweir, Hewelsfield and St Briavels Garden Society is offering two grants of £300 to help start up prospective beekeepers. A large proportion (£479) of the money has come through the Midcounties Cooperative Community Fund in partnership with Gloucestershire Community Foundation and the aim is for the society to fund two new beekeepers.

It is the fourth year in a row the society has offered grants to prospective beekeepers and their 2009 beekeepers are now running seven hives. The advantage to garden society members is simple – the more bees around, the better their gardens.

To qualify or apply for the grants you need to live within the parishes of Alvington, Aylburton, Coleford, Hewelsfield and Brockweir, Lydney, Newland, St. Briavels, Tidenham, West Dean and Woolaston.

Places have been reserved on the basic course run by the Dean Forest Beekeepers Association. Interviews of the short-listed applicants will take place on Thursday January 5, 2012.

•For an application form and the terms and conditions of the grant please contact Alan Robertson on 01594 530424 or by e-mail: [email protected]">[email protected]