Bees are great. They're also not having a very easy time of things at the moment. The way we farm these days, with centralised, single product holdings being encouraged by big supermarket chains, means that where once there was enough variety of plant life to sustain a multitude of creatures, there's now what's known as a 'green desert.' That means a drastic depletion of songbirds, butterflies, and our favourite little honey makers.
In light of this it's a good thing that beekeeping is more accessible than ever. You might think that you need a lot of land, or some intense know-how to be able to get started, but in fact almost anyone can give it a go. What do you get out of it? Well, the fairly obvious answer is honey, which is a great incentive, but also the satisfaction of a fun and engaging hobby which involves a nurturing of organic life.
To get going the old-fashioned way you should get in touch with your local Bee Keepers Association. They're a friendly bunch, and you'll be supplied with all the literature you'll need, along with some opportunities to meet bees and beekeepers in your local area for helpful hints and tips. They'll be able to tell you what you need to buy in order to make a traditional frame hive, and also guide you through all the jargon that accompanies hardcore beekeeping literature.
Alternatively there's a new trend towards much simpler hives that you can set up pretty much anywhere - provided you have neighbourhood approval - and don't need to do too much to maintain. One example of this is the Beehaus, which is very light and is well designed to please the little insect swarm too. Starter packs are available from many outdoor hobby retailers.
For doing things on the cheap there's also the chance to get plans for a simple hive from the internet, for example on BBC's Springwatch site, and then trusting in your local wild bees to have good taste when choosing a new abode. Spreading some beeswax on the inside of your potential house is a top tip.
In light of this it's a good thing that beekeeping is more accessible than ever. You might think that you need a lot of land, or some intense know-how to be able to get started, but in fact almost anyone can give it a go. What do you get out of it? Well, the fairly obvious answer is honey, which is a great incentive, but also the satisfaction of a fun and engaging hobby which involves a nurturing of organic life.
To get going the old-fashioned way you should get in touch with your local Bee Keepers Association. They're a friendly bunch, and you'll be supplied with all the literature you'll need, along with some opportunities to meet bees and beekeepers in your local area for helpful hints and tips. They'll be able to tell you what you need to buy in order to make a traditional frame hive, and also guide you through all the jargon that accompanies hardcore beekeeping literature.
Alternatively there's a new trend towards much simpler hives that you can set up pretty much anywhere - provided you have neighbourhood approval - and don't need to do too much to maintain. One example of this is the Beehaus, which is very light and is well designed to please the little insect swarm too. Starter packs are available from many outdoor hobby retailers.
For doing things on the cheap there's also the chance to get plans for a simple hive from the internet, for example on BBC's Springwatch site, and then trusting in your local wild bees to have good taste when choosing a new abode. Spreading some beeswax on the inside of your potential house is a top tip.
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Once you've got all the equipment for your bees, why not choose a quality wooden shed to keep your garden goods?
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