5 Tips For Starting Beekeeping
It’s the new year, and although it may be blowing a hooley outside, many of us are thinking ahead to what we want to achieve this year. If you’re thinking that this is the year you want to start keeping bees then read on for my 5 tips for getting started in beekeeping.
Experience some bees
Before you jump in I’d recommend getting up close to some honey bees and seeing inside a hive or two. There are a few ways you can go about this;
if you look online you may find a beekeeping group nearby that you could visit during the summer months, they often run open days or will welcome inquisitive “newbees” to a club meeting or two without having to join up first.
If you know someone who has bees then ask if you can visit with them - beekeepers love showing off and talking about their bees so they will likely welcome you to their apiary.
Alternatively you could look for an organised beekeeping taster or bee experience; these will be run in the summer months and will give you both an opportunity to look inside a hive but also the host will take you through some key facts about bees and you may even get to hold a frame of bees yourself which is the perfect test of whether beekeeping might be for you.
Read about the subject
If you get pleasure from reading then I recommend reading a few books that will give you a window into the world of beekeeping. “From A to Bee” by James Dearsley, “Liquid Gold” by Roger Morgan-Greenville and “The Bad Beekeepers Club” by Bill Turnbull are all good places to start as they take you through their first foray into beekeeping and the fun and mishaps that occur along the way.
If you’re looking for a more factual read then the “BBKA Guide to Beekeeping” is a good read and if you’re in the USA then Kim Flottum’s “Beekeeping for Beginners” is for you.
You Tube has many useful videos that will give you an insight and there are also a few podcasts out there that will start getting you used to the language.
I would avoid joining any Facebook beekeeping groups initially as there are many differing opinions shared and it can become rather overwhelming before you’ve even begun.
Do a course, or a few
Please don’t get your bees before going on at least one introductory course. Bees are considered livestock and when you get them you have a responsibility to help them thrive, if you jump in before learning what to do then this could prove both expensive and bad news for you and your bees.
Many beekeeping clubs run winter courses and there are other courses run by professional beekeepers across the UK. We have a few courses available including a basic online course, day’s theory introduction and further help through practical sessions and mentoring.
Find a suitable spot
Consideration of where you’re going to keep your bees is important because once they’re there they won’t be able to be moved more than 3 ft at a time, unless you’re moving them more than 3 miles away for at least 3 weeks!
Most courses will help you work out a suitable spot but if you’re considering putting them in your garden, consider how you use the space before you start. The area ideally has little foot traffic, no pets or children playing around the space they’d be situated and away from where you’d sit and enjoy the day. This is because although you may have friendly bees (and we all hope we get those) sometimes even then there may be a rogue bee that wants to ensure her hive is well clear of any danger and will follow you around the garden if you’re too close.
Find a buddy who’s interested too
This one isn’t essential but it is really helpful and nice to have. From learning together, sharing the cost and quizzing each other on what should be done in a certain situation, having a beekeeping buddy brings another level of enjoyment to the hobby and also means that you can take long summer holidays without worrying about what you’ll return to.
I hope you’ve found these tips helpful, beekeeping is an enjoyable and rewarding hobby; especially if you start on the right foot with lots of knowledge and ideally a little experience too.
If we can be of any help guiding you to the right course please feel free to contact us or jump in a book an introductory course with us.
