Helping the Bees
©VECTIS APICULTURE 2008-
Bees can be sourced by several methods.The cheapest way is to is to collect a swarm, these normally come free, but unless you have an experienced beekeeper with you, we do not recommend this for the novice.
You could ask another beekeeper/s in your area if they have a new colony (nucleus)
that they can give/sell you -
Or
Bees can be ordered from a commercial supplier
Capturing the swarm
(Click on picture)
Finding the swarm
(Click on picture)
You will need some bees
• a beehive
• a site for the hive
• some basic equipment
• protective clothing
Provided that you are physically able to move and manipulate the hive ( or you have someone who will assist you), and that you are not allergic to bee stings.
YES YOU CAN
CAN I BECOME A BEE KEEPER?
WHAT DO I NEED TO KEEP BEES?
WHERE CAN I GET THE BEES?
STARTING UP
There are many types of hives in use in Britain today -
Photo from a 1946 Young Farmers’ Club Booklet on Bee Keeping entitled “Using the smoker before opening the hive.”
Were bees more placid then or was he relying on the smoke from his tobacco pipe to protect him?
WHICH BEEHIVE SHOULD I CHOOSE?
Bee hives can be sited at many locations whether it be town or country, from a quiet spot in the garden, rooftops, woodland or open countryside. The most important consideration is that it must be placed where the bees will not annoy neighbours or passers by.
Bees are not aggressive by nature unless their colony is placed under threat.
If you are planning to place your hive where there are neighbours nearby, we
strongly advise you contact them and seek their approval of your plans (the offer of a pot of honey from your hive may swing it!).
If you have no suitable land yourself to place the hive, take a walk to the woods/countryside to see if you can find a quiet corner that would be ideal to site a hive. Once you have located a site, seek permission from the landowner (again, the offer of a pot of honey may clinch the deal!)
A word of caution though -
WHERE CAN I SITE MY HIVE?
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED?
TOOLS
Initially you require little equipment.The essentials are a hive tool and a smoker although a frame grip and a bee brush would be useful additions. Later on you might decide to invest in honey harvesting equipment, but these are not essential in the first year. Should you be fortunate enough to have enough honey to harvest then normally a loan or hire of an extractor from a local bee keeper or association would be possible.
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Quite often you will see photographs of bee keepers tending their hives with no protection at all. DO NOT TRY THIS.
The use of protective clothing is essential for the novice bee keeper. It provides security and allows you to gain confidence quickly. We recommend that you use a coverall type bee suit with a combined hood/hat and veil. Hands should be protected with leather / tough PVC gloves with combined gauntlets, elasticated at tops. You will also need a pair of wellington or leather boots.
As a first step we recommend you join your local bee keepers association. Here you will meet other bee keepers who will be able to give you advice and guidance. They often run courses and organize talks and events. An invaluable source of information. Courses are also run by some colleges, check with your local library to see if there are any in your area.
There are also many books on the market available to purchase.
WHERE CAN I GET HELP?