Hilborough Mill Apiary

ABOUT US

OUR TEAM

Centuarea is a family owned business run by Michael and Catherine Thick who are both keen, qualified beekeepers. Catherine and Michael have been keeping bees for over 10 years and in 2016 established their main apiary of 30 hives at Hilborough in Norfolk, Since then activities have expanded to include out-apiaries and a nursery apiary on local farmland. With ambitions to double the number of colonies in 2020, they are utiising technology to assist with the monitoring of the health of bee colonies and early swarm prevention.

The whole team are passionate about bees and committed to continual education and research into the ecology and health of bees.

Michael Thick

Michael practiced as a transplant surgeon for many years before taking up roles in digital healthcare. He has held a Chair in Genomics at Imperial College London and in Surgery in Lybia, Michael manages the front end of bee-keeping, building hives, stands and the hardware of the enterprise.

Catherine Guelbert-Thick

Catherine a former NHS manager, specialises in organisation development and leadership and is a Professional Doctorate Researcher at Anglia Ruskin University. Catherine manages the processing and sales of honey and is the creative mind behind the production of candles, decorations and wax products.

Catherine and Michael care for their bees together, taking great pleasure in both the art and science of apiculture.

Harry Jubb

Harry Jubb is a computational biochemist and full stack software developer and works closley with Michael on the design and production of innovative technologies to support beekeeping at scale. 

BEE KEEPING, TRAINING AND EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND PRODUCTS

Our main activity is bee-keeping with the aim of sustaining and expanding our colonies to support our local environment and to strengthen the honey bee population. We have a strong interest in research and are part of the World Bee Project, the HOSTABEE project and are using the RaspberryPI to develop micro technologies for monitoring the health and well-being of our colonies. We are members of the British Bee Keeping Association and the West Norfolk and Wisbech Bee Keepers Association

In 202o we will be offering bee-keeping course for beginners at our stunning premises in Norfolk where we have a training apiary and conference suite. We will also be taking our ideas into local schools to promote the importance of honey bees and their contribution to local ecology and conservation

Honey and wax are wonderful natural  products arising from bee-keeping. Our unique and yummy honey is available from our on-site shop and candles and decorations can be made to order.