Welcome back, future beekeepers! In Part 3 of our beekeeping journey, we'll delve into the exciting tasks of finding the ideal location for your hive and selecting the perfect bees to call it home.
Recap and Timeline:
By now, you've hopefully made the exciting decision to embark on this rewarding hobby. You're likely buzzing with anticipation, picturing yourself tending your hive, harvesting honey, and enjoying the fascinating world of bees. You've also, I trust, chosen the hive that best suits your needs and gathered the essential beekeeping accessories. Remember, if any questions linger, don't hesitate to contact us – I'm always happy to help.
Before we dive into hive placement and bee selection, let's briefly revisit the beekeeping timeline. Your first active season will likely begin around May or June, depending on when bees become available. Here at Hagens, our initial batch of nucleus colonies (or "Nucs") has already been snapped up by eager beekeepers, but we have another batch ready to go in late April, May or early June.
Early Spring Stirring within the Hive:
Even before the bees start their busy foraging flights, there's a subtle hum of activity within the hive. The worker bees are diligently preparing cells for the upcoming drone brood, and the queen has been steadily laying a few eggs throughout the winter, especially in warmer parts of the UK. As spring approaches, she gradually increases her egg-laying rate, carefully matching it to the colony's ability to care for the developing larvae. This ensures that the young bees receive adequate nourishment and warmth.
A sudden surge in brood could overwhelm the colony's resources, leading to chilled or neglected larvae – a condition known as "chilled brood." This can weaken the hive and make it more susceptible to diseases.
To avoid this, we refrain from stimulating the hive with artificial feeding until we're certain that both the weather and natural forage are abundant. This is usually around the first week of March for those of us in the south of England, but it varies across the UK. Keep an eye on the hedgerows in your area – they often provide early clues about the availability of natural forage.
Choosing Your Bees: A Foundation for Success:
Now, let's talk about your bee options – when and where to acquire them. As mentioned earlier, Hagens is a reputable source for bees, carefully sourced and partnering with some of the UK's top breeders. I cannot overemphasise the importance of starting with high-quality bees from a trusted breeder. This decision will significantly impact your beekeeping experience for years to come. Have a look at the Nucs we currently have for sale on our website at Hagens.
In your first year, purchasing a nucleus colony is the recommended approach. However, as you gain experience, you can consider expanding your apiary and even raising your own Nucs from your existing colonies.
Why Swarms are Not Ideal for Beginners:
While it might be tempting to acquire a swarm, especially for cost-conscious beginners, I strongly advise against it. Swarms come with several unknowns: their temperament, disease history, and swarming tendencies. These uncertainties can lead to challenges, especially for new beekeepers, and often result in frustration and disappointment. We'll delve deeper into the reasons behind this in Part 5 of our series.
Siting Your Hive: Creating a Harmonious Space:
Let's assume you've chosen your hive and have a stand ready. Now comes the crucial task of finding the perfect location for your hive.
For this discussion, I'll assume you're planning to keep your bees at home, which is often the most convenient and rewarding option. The key considerations here are space and location.
Interestingly, beekeeping was incredibly common in post-war Britain, with an estimated 500,000 to 1 million hives! This was partly due to sugar rationing, which encouraged households to keep bees for honey production. Many of these hives were situated in back gardens, demonstrating that even modest spaces can accommodate bees.
So, you don't need a sprawling garden to keep bees. The primary concern is how the hive integrates with your family life. Do you envision yourself spending peaceful moments observing your bees as they diligently work? This is undoubtedly one of beekeeping's greatest joys. Watching them bring in pollen, trying to guess which flowers they're visiting, is a source of endless fascination for beekeepers and their families alike.
Ideally, you have a quiet corner of your garden in mind for your hive. Some beekeepers even utilise rooftops. I have a close friend, a commercial beekeeper, who keeps bees on a small roof about 3 meters up. While some sources recommend a height of 5 meters, a roof is a roof, and if you have the opportunity and safe access, it can be a viable option.
Think of the iconic hives atop London landmarks like Harrods, Liberty, Fortnum & Mason, and even the Victoria & Albert Museum! These examples demonstrate that with the right bees, skilled beekeeping, and a respectful approach, bees can thrive in various locations. Even Buckingham Palace has hives in its gardens, proving that bees can coexist peacefully with people in even the busiest of environments.
Hive Placement: Bee Preferences and Practical Considerations:
When choosing your hive location, you need to consider both the bees' needs and your own practicalities.
Firstly, let's discuss what to avoid. Don't place your hive next to a footpath, washing line, or waste bins. Bees, like us, appreciate peace and quiet, so avoid placing them near areas with frequent activity like lawnmowers or strimmers. In fact, it's a good idea to let this part of your garden rewild and return to a more natural state, providing a haven for your bees and other pollinators.
While some sources advise against placing hives under trees due to dripping water, I've known many beekeepers who have done so without any issues. On the other hand, I cannot think of a more perfect place than the shelter of a mature willow tree near a water source, as the early-blooming catkins can provide valuable forage for your bees.
The ideal location is one that receives ample sunshine, particularly at the hive entrance. Aim for about a meter of working space around the hive. Placing the hive against a wall can offer protection from wind and create a sheltered microclimate.
Avoid facing the hive towards areas regularly used by your family or neighbours. A good option is to face the hive towards a hedge or fence about two meters away. This encourages the bees to fly out and upwards, minimising the chances of accidental encounters.
Remember, bees typically sting defensively. They die after stinging, so they have no incentive to sting unnecessarily. However, a simple fence around the hive can be a good idea to deter curious children or pets. Dogs, in particular, can sometimes be an issue, although they tend to learn their lesson after a sting or two! Beehives can also attract unwanted attention from wildlife like badgers, which can cause significant damage. Fortunately, such incidents are not common.
Sourcing Your Bees: Quality and Reliability:
Now, let's discuss the importance of sourcing reliable, calm, and productive bees and queens.
As part of the Hagens beekeeping team, I have a vested interest in supplying quality bees and queens to beekeepers of all levels, from hobbyists to professionals. However, our commitment goes beyond sales. We're passionate about bees and the health of the industry, which is why we've created this six-part introductory series and made it freely available to our customers, future beekeeping friends, and the wider community.
Over the years, I've encountered some interesting questions from new beekeepers. One that stands out is, "After setting up my hive, do I just wait for the bees to arrive?" While it might seem naive, it's not entirely unfounded. Bees do swarm, and scout bees are sent out to search for new homes. It's theoretically possible for a swarm to take up residence in an empty hive, but in all my years of beekeeping, I have never seen them occupy a newly established hive, it's never happened to me, but never say never. I have, however, used bait hives to catch swarms from my own colonies, but that was more by chance than design!
Regardless, a swarm is rarely a good option for a new beekeeper. You have no information about their origin, temperament, disease history, or swarming tendencies.
My strongest advice is to purchase a well-bred nucleus colony from a reputable source. At Hagens, we offer reliably UK bred Nucs from our trusted breeders and suppliers, that are ideal for both new and experienced beekeepers. Whether you purchase your bees from us as part of a complete hive kit or not is secondary. Our primary goal is to help you get off to a good start.
What to Look for in a Nuc:
So, what should you look for in a nuc of bees? They should be calm on the comb, easy to overwinter, and productive during the honey flow. Most importantly, they should be gentle and easy to work with.
You might have heard the term "Buckfast" when researching honeybees in the UK. Brother Adam OBE, a Benedictine monk, dedicated his life from the age of 17 until his death at 98 to developing this strain of bee, he gathered queens from many counties to help him establish a mixed-race queen fit for both hobbyists and professional beekeepers alike. I think it would be fair to assume that he was not a fan of the existing native bee choices. Known for its calmness, productivity, and disease resistance. Buckfast bees are well-suited to both new and commercial beekeepers. We have several specialist breeders in the UK who raise pure Buckfast bees from protected stocks, often originating from isolated islands to maintain genetic integrity. These breeder queens are not cheap, often costing upwards of £400 each.
Few breeders have invested their lives in the art of breeding the best quality Buckfast queens in the UK as Ged Marshal and his protégé have developing their style and brand through British Honey Producers, maybe next year for you could start that split off with one of their Buckfast Queens.
From these breeder queens, beekeepers raise Nucs, typically 5-frame colonies, which are overwintered and sold in the spring or reared from new stock in the summer for a later supply around June. Be warned, the best Nucs often sell out quickly, so early ordering is essential.
The Black Bee: A Native Treasure:
In the UK, we also have the native black bee, a smaller, less prolific bee that was nearly driven to extinction. Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, its numbers are recovering in some parts of the UK. Black bee enthusiasts often highlight its hardiness and adaptability to the British climate.
Carniolan Bees: A European Favourite:
Another excellent option is the Carniolan bee, a popular choice throughout Europe. They are often bred in "closed populations," meaning they are the only legally permitted bee in certain countries, such as Slovenia. Slovenian beekeepers have generations of experience with Carniolan bees, and their expertise is renowned worldwide.
Carniolan queens are exported globally, and here at Hagens, we source ours from families who supplied Brother Adam himself! He recognised their valuable traits and incorporated them into his Buckfast breeding program. While not as widely available in early spring in the UK, Carniolan Nucs are an excellent choice for those seeking a gentle and productive bee.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Your Apiary:
Let's look a bit further into the future. Trust me, I don't need a crystal ball to predict that you'll likely end up with two hives. If you're lucky and sensible, you'll stop there! However, two hives offer the best options for managing your colonies, ensuring their long-term health, and providing valuable learning experiences. We'll discuss this in more detail in Part 6.
Beekeeping is a captivating hobby that can easily grow and grow. I've lost count of how many times I've heard, "I just want one hive, maybe two," only to see that same person with eight or more a few years later! It's a rewarding pursuit, offering a unique connection to nature and the satisfaction of producing your own honey. And, as a bonus, it's carbon-neutral and, after the initial investment, can be financially sustainable, with the honey harvest often covering your ongoing expenses.
Recommended Reading:
I've already encouraged you to read Ted Hooper MBE's "Guide to Bees & Honey" which should be your go-to resource for all things beekeeping. I also highly recommend Clive de Bruyn's "Practical Beekeeping" which offers a wealth of hands-on advice and insights from a lifetime of beekeeping experience.
Try to focus on one or two authors initially. It's easy to get overwhelmed trying to learn from multiple sources, and remember, ask twelve beekeepers a question, and you'll get at least thirteen answers!
However, if you want to be truly captivated by the intricacies of honeybee behaviour, treat yourself or better still get someone else to treat you to "The Buzz About Bees" by Jürgen-Tautz.
Keep it Simple:
Remember, beekeeping doesn't have to be complicated. Start with the basics, focus on providing a good home for your bees, and enjoy the journey.
Conclusion:
So, we've covered hive location and bee selection. Remember, bees are adaptable and can thrive in various locations, as long as their basic needs are met. By carefully considering their preferences and your practicalities, you can create a harmonious environment for both you and your bees.
Next Time…
In our next session, we'll delve into the fascinating world of your bees, exploring their behaviour, what to expect in your first year, and how to make them feel at home in their new hive.
Any Questions?
If you have any questions or need further guidance, please don't hesitate to drop us a line using the contact us form below.
Remember, we have everything you need to get started in Beekeeping and accessories to help you on your journey, here at Hagens. Come and have a look on our website to see what we can tempt you with!