Many people have taken up new hobbies to fill their time since lockdown first started in March – and one hobby that’s been creating a real buzz this year is beekeeping.
Haynes Bee Manual
The British Beekeeping Association (BBKA) has seen memberships rise by the thousands in 2020, and there’s been a hive of activity on social media too – with over 230m hits for beekeeping content on TikTok alone. What’s more, Haynes Publishing has reported an exponential rise in demand for its Bee Manual, making it Amazon’s best-selling book about beekeeping.
As with many hobbies, it can be hard to know where to start. Thankfully, seasoned beekeeper and author of Bee Manual, Claire Waring, has provided her advice on seven things you need to know about this addictive craft:
1. BEE RESPONSIBILITY
Beekeeping is more than just a superficial hobby that can be picked up and put down at will. By keeping bees, you are accepting responsibility for living animals and just like having a cat or a dog - that means prioritising their welfare. Only keep bees if you know you have the time to manage them, especially during the active season!
2. APIARIST ESSENTIALS
Preferably before you acquire your first colony, be sure to attend a course which includes both theory and practical sessions, join your local beekeeping association (where you can get tips and advice from experienced beekeepers), and read a good, informative book to see you through the process – the Bee Manual, of course!
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3. GET YOURSELF REGISTERED
If you’re based in England, Wales or Scotland, be sure to register your colonies on either BeeBase or the National Bee Unit (NBU) website so that you can receive up-to-date information about keeping your bees healthy and productive. The NBU website also has links to advisory leaflets, best-practice guidelines and fact sheets covering a wide range of beekeeping topics. By knowing the distribution of beekeepers and their apiaries across the country, the NBU can monitor and control the spread of serious honey bee pests and diseases effectively.
4. X MARKS THE SPOT
Find and prepare an apiary site before you get your bees. You don’t necessarily need a lot of space, but make sure it’s suitable and won’t cause problems with your neighbours. If you can, start with at least two colonies so that you can compare their development and, if necessary, use materials from one to solve any problems that may occur with the other.
5. LOOK THE PART
It’s absolutely imperative that you make sure you’re not allergic to bee stings before committing to beekeeping - as these cannot be completely avoided, even with the best protective equipment. There are several designs of personal protective veils available. Some are all-in-one outfits and others just jackets, which can be worn over a boilersuit or something similar. Make sure yours is comfortable to work in, bearing in mind that you’ll get hot wearing it in the summer, and that it doesn’t have any holes through which bees can gain access.
6. FLEX YOUR MUSCLES
Believe it or not - beekeeping is both active and practical. You need to be prepared for some fairly heavy lifting, and if you can’t do this on your own, recruit a friend who can help you. If you can safely wield a hammer and screwdriver, you should be able to build flat-pack equipment, but don’t fret if you’re not overly confident with flat-pack, you can buy hives, frames and other equipment that are ready-to-use too.
7. ENJOY YOURSELF
Beekeeping is a fascinating, rewarding and enjoyable hobby – and a welcoming community of beekeepers await you. If you can sustain healthy hives, they’ll not only provide you with surplus honey, but will also help to improve pollination in your area. Be warned, beekeeping is addictive!
The Bee Manual is available from Haynes.com and costs £22.99.
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