Beehive construction?

[Mike PA]

It's a very good idea to go to the local beekeepers' meeting, you'll get lots of practical information and, probably, genuine offers of help, I'm sure, about things like siting the hive (though I know your mum's garden doesn't offer many options), re-queening, pest and disease control and so on.

I am certain you'll enjoy it, too: beekeepers are truly a breed apart (with all due respect to Hivez) and some of the last of life's real individuals.

 

[OldWood]

beekeepers are truly a breed apart (with all due respect to Hivez) and some of the last of life's real individuals.

Actually I find statements like that thoroughly patronising and inaccurate; groups of enthusiasts on any topic are all 'a breed apart' - that's what makes them enthusiasts - get a bunch of them together, from teachers through to steam nuts, and you'll never get a word in edgewise

Jim, just be prepared for a bunch of elderly anoraks who are not that good at being sociable and are all very much into their minutiae of bee life, honey production, etc. I've got pushing 50 years of beekeeping experience and of all the social groups.clubs I belong to, I find the beekeepers the most introverted and unapproachable.

Rob

 

[hivez]

I think Oldwood is partially right there are people like that knocking around.But I was lucky that a great "master" beekeeper taught me with all the patience in the world. Members of the club gave me equipment and also came to my apiary to help when I needed it. Plus I could loan books and extracting equipment and buy cheap equipment through the club shop

There are good associations with good people out there

Dave

 

[jimi43]

Interesting take on this sector of interest.

Of the people I have spoken to, they all, without exception, appear to be quite welcoming and generous people.

When I asked for membership fee details I was told "Just come along...your mother needs to ensure this is a subject she really wants to get involved in, if she does we may ask her to contribute £1 towards the coffee and sticky buns..."

I think that sounds quite welcoming indeed.

My view of bees....NO BLOODY WAY! This is because I was stung by a swarm when I was only six and it has left me with a permanent phobia for needles of all things! I can't even watch an injection on television without looking away!

I am quite happy to sit there and support her but as far as getting practically involved...well that may take a bit more guts!

From my mother's point of view...I want this for her as she enters her twilight years...she is 75 now and I hope that she will remain active for many years yet...she does about 10 miles of rambles a week and recently entered the Greenwich walk bike ride for charity...so I think she is far more active than I am!

But we have to be realistic and I think this will be an engrossing hobby for her to get into and she certainly has the patience for it. She also firmly believes in it....not quite to the Einstein definition but almost!

Thanks for the feedback guys.., much appreciated

Jim

 

[Plutus]

Jimi
I'm a beekeeper too and endorse everything the others have said.
Cedar is also used because it is light in weight and easier to lift the box when full of bees.

Hive plans can be downloaded FOC from the Scottish beekeepers website.

Would you mind sharing your source of cedar as I'm planning to make a few myself?

Thanks
Peter

 

[jimi43]

Jimi
I'm a beekeeper too and endorse everything the others have said.
Cedar is also used because it is light in weight and easier to lift the box when full of bees.

Hive plans can be downloaded FOC from the Scottish beekeepers website.

Would you mind sharing your source of cedar as I'm planning to make a few myself?

Thanks
Peter

Hi Peter.

It is not that close to you but the source is just up the road from me.

They will cut to size and it is £1155 cubic metre or plus £130 planed.

MORGAN TIMBER - ROCHESTER KENT

They sounded really helpful.

The plans I got are for the 10 Frame WBC hive based on 5/8" wood

I am now trying to work out the cutting plan and quantity.

Plans were on http://www.beesource.com

I would like to work with you on this and the other guys here to make sure I do the right things....but I want to go to the first meeting and meet locals who have their own swarms and see what their views are.

Cheers mate.

Jim

 

[devonwoody]

Do you need planning permission for bee hives or permits, I recall they can be classed as dangerous animals? (Some people are allergic to bee stings, lethal)

 

[Plutus]

Thaks Jim
It's about the same price as up here.
I'm trying to find some at a price which will equate to 33% of the main suppliers prices (in the flat) but i haven't found a cheap enough source yet.

WBC is the most complicated of all hives to make as it's double walled.
Also, it's harder to use as you have to lift off the outer hive pieces (called "lifts") before you can get to the inner ones where the bees live.
Most hives are flat roofed and don't look as good as the WBC but are more practical. An alternative is to make a gabled roof national which looks similar. Check out the thornes website for prices and looks. Also, if time is short it may be worth buying one in the flat and assembling. Don't forget that the perfect hives from the main suppliers are knot free, so if building your own you need to be comparing knot free timber prices.

http://www.thorne.co.uk/

No you don't need planning permission for hives as they are moveable. However, on allotments you need permission from the allotment committe and maybe the council if it owns the site.
Wherever they are. if the bees turn out to be a nuisance and neighbours complain the authorities can make you move them by law (can't remember which one)

 

[paininthe]

beekeepers are truly a breed apart (with all due respect to Hivez) and some of the last of life's real individuals.

Actually I find statements like that thoroughly patronising and inaccurate; groups of enthusiasts on any topic are all 'a breed apart' - that's what makes them enthusiasts - get a bunch of them together, from teachers through to steam nuts, and you'll never get a word in edgewise

Jim, just be prepared for a bunch of elderly anoraks who are not that good at being sociable and are all very much into their minutiae of bee life, honey production, etc. I've got pushing 50 years of beekeeping experience and of all the social groups.clubs I belong to, I find the beekeepers the most introverted and unapproachable.

Rob

Your 2nd paragraph qualifies your first paragraph.

 

[jimi43]

Do you need planning permission for bee hives or permits, I recall they can be classed as dangerous animals? (Some people are allergic to bee stings, lethal)

I don't think so and I understand that when someone called The Police....Sting wasn't interested! :wink:

I'll get me coat!

 

[devonwoody]

 

[SimonB]

Just getting into beekeeping myself, one piece of advice I got on the beginners beekeeping course was to ensure that if you join a local beekeping assocation make sure they are affiliated to the BBKA, that way you get insurance against loss of your colony, however if your mother is getting her bees for free this is perhaps less of an issue.

Whilst not a practising beekeeper and knowing only some of the theory after having read a considerable amount and attended the course I have realised that there is far more to successful beekeeping that just being a bee owner. Without wishing to teach her to suck eggs, she needs to ensure that she is at least familiar with swarm control and disease and to ensure a strong colony next year that she understands the need to feed the colony when necessary especially in autumn to ensure enough stores for winter.

If I may, one book recommendation is 'Guide to Bees and Honey' by Ted Hooper (ISBN-10: 1904846246, ISBN-13: 978-1904846246), although this does go into some depth on what I would call the more advanced aspects of beekeeping. The trick it seems to me, as a beginner, is to know what are the essentials to maintain the colony and what are the tricks of the trade as it were to improve honey production.

I've als thought about making some of the hive components myself and have been looking for a cedar supplier, thanks for the link.

Good luck to your mother, I'm really looking forward to getting started, my bees arrive in May apparently.

 

[jimi43]

I am fast becoming amazed at just how many woodies are also into bees!

These two things must go hand in glove for some reason...I think we are all "friends of the earth" to some extent...working as we do with living vital entities.

Many thanks for the constant supply of help guys...it is most appreciated I can tell you!

Jim

 

[frugal]

We had friends around for Sunday lunch and after lunch a set of plans for a Top Bar hive were waved in my direction with a hopeful look.

As Western Red Cedar looks to be quite hard to find, what other woods would people recommend?

 

[Plutus]

Deal is also quite good if looked after.

Just read about a guy who made his top bar hive from old pallets - cost him £10.

Don't know much about TBH's but for standard hives you really need 2 as if they look ready to swarm you need another hive PDQ.