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3:52 am
11 May 2010
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justal
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Hello,
I'm thinking of starting beekeeping here in my back garden in Borth, West Wales. Until recently I knew nothing at all about beekeeping but have been doing plenty of research and I'm finally coming to some decisions regarding hive type etc.
I'd thought I'd sign up here and join the beekeeping community before diving headlong into buying equipment and getting some bees, so I hope you'll make a complete beginner welcome.
I've just written my thoughts on hives down on my weblog which you can see here Beekeeping – What Equipment do I need? The Hive. Am I thinking along the right lines? Have I made the right decisions?
I live in a small bungalow on the coast with a moderate garden. We have sand dunes to the front of the house and a grazed field behind followed by raised peat bog. I'm not convinced that this is an ideal location for a beehive. Will there be enough food for the bees to forage? What about the exposure to the winds from the sea, will that affect the colony too much?
As you can tell, I'm a complete beginner so any help, advice or reassurance will be appreciated. I'd also like to make contact with any other local beekeepers.
Many thanks,
Al.
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10:43 am
11 May 2010
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ThePath
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Hey Al, well you are very welcome indeed and its great you are starting out in beekeeping.
There really is so much to learn but Im glad you have taken some time to read up a bit before plunging in but the real learning curve comes with your first hive.
Before I answer you questions can you tell us where you are getting your bees and how many there will be i.e. will it be a nuc hive you are getting from a loacal beekeeper? I have written extensively about not importing bees to this country and contacting your local beekeepers association to try and obtain local bees…this also builds up your info/expertise network. Also I wouldnt buy a brand new hive if you can get a second hand one for cheap locally. Obviously if doing this use a blow torch to scorch hive interior and kill of any bugs etc.
To answer your queries, yes you are definitely on the right track! I would advise you go for the standard national, get frames with foundation (you can get a mixture of wired and non-wired…..the non wired is for producing comb honey).
Just go for everything standard for your first hive! If you are getting nuc hive you wont need any supers for the first year as the hive will be too small and will probably (depends on the size of the nuc really) only need the brood box to operate. Also if you are getting a nuc hive and you area is kinda plant barron then you will have to feed your bees. For spring and summer feeding mix one kilo of sugar with one litre of water (1lb:1 Pint). Also see this page.
Your bees will fly for a few miles to forage. If your area is still lifeless within three miles you are 1. going to have to feed your bees a lot and 2. start planting for the bees in your area.
If there is a strong wind coming from the see fairly constantly I would face the hive entrance away from this and create a windbreak with bushes and shrubs at the back. If the wind is strong a lot of the time this probably isnt ideal for the bees as they will need to fly back with full pollen/nectar loads against the wind to return to the hive. This could mean you have a high turnover of foragers?? I cant be certain of this but would seem logical, however I dont think this would be a reason not to keep them in your garden. Suck it and see dude, if the hive is failing you will probably have to look to its position as the answer.
Check out your local beekeepers associations here, Wales are nearer the bottom.
Well I hope Ive helped and good luck with your bees, please come back if you have any more questions or want to write about your experiences as a new beekeeper.
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12:43 am
12 May 2010
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justal
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Thanks for your reply… I have tried contacting the local association for a while now but have had no luck doing so.
My amin worries are the wind and the lack of forage in the area. As you say, the latter can be addressed by planting for them and feeding, the former is a little more difficult as this really is the windy place you've ever experienced. In fact, as a windsurfer that is exactly why I buil the house here. We are on a spit of land that has sea to the West and a large tidal estuary to the North and East. The wind blows from all directions at any time of the year. I have a weather station in the back garden and it is rare for the wind to drop below force 4, so I think the exposed nature of the site might prove to be the biggest problem.
I shall try to get in touch with other local beekeepers, I've e-mailed quite a few but none have replied which is why I thought I'd try postingon some forums. Although without living exactly where I do they won't quite know how windy it is here either. We get a NE wind (called Ivor) that funnels down the valley and hits us here. It can be 5 knots everywhere else, even just 1/2 mile down the road, but 40 knots here!
I shall persevere though and as you say the only way to find out how the bees will cope is to suck it and see.
Thanks,
Al.
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3:33 am
12 May 2010
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ThePath
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Wow that is a strong wind ya got there……wind and kite surfing heaven. I have a fealing that a 40 knot wind might be a bit extreme for the bees but who really knows until you try it! I suppose you cant position the hive 1/2 a mile away where the winds are less?
Well atleast if you plant some solid bushes behind and around the hive it will provide a slight wind break.
Im disappointed that the local BKA's havent been in touch with you, the ones up here in Scotland are normally very good and supportive. So have you tried all of them in your area?
Wales, Pembrokeshire Beekeepers Association
http://www.pbka.info
Association Secretary by email or give him a call on 01437 891892 secretarypbka@hotmail.com
Wales, South Clwyd Beekeepers Association
http://scb.delfryndesign.co.uk…..index.html
Cadeirydd / Chairman: ……………….. Mr. D Hards (01824 780524) Is-CadeiryddNice / Vice Chairman: .. Mr. G Lewis (01824 780274) Ysgrifennydd / Secretary: …………… Mrs. C Keys-Shaw (01490 460592
If none of these give you any help then you could try the Welsh National BKA: http://www.wbka.com/
If they dont help (I would be very disappointed  ) then you could try the British BKA:
British Beekeepers Association – The office will always be manned between 9.30am and 2.30pm each week day (except bank holidays) and at other times there will be the answer-phone. Tel: 02476 696679 Fax: 02476 690682
Hopefully you can find somebody in your local area that keeps bees, because then you know they can handle the wind and two you can take from that hive and be assured the bees will cope with the conditions!! Its very important to source your bees locally, I guarantee if you import bees they will either leave the hive or simply die.
Your local BKA should do beekeeping courses for beginners, this really is a great way to learn, network and get your bees!!
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7:13 am
12 May 2010
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justal
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Thanks… I haven't tried the other Welsh associations as they are all quite a way from here… At least a couple of hours drive in most cases so I didn't think they would be much help, especially when it came to advising on the local conditions etc.
I did e-mail the Welsh National BKA asking if there were any beginner beekeeping courses in the area, I did get a reply but they have yet come up with anything in this area. The closest was a 3 hour drive from here.
I shall try phoning the Aberystwytn and District beekeeping association again as I shall be needing a local source of bees if I do decide to get a hive.
Thanks again,
Al.
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8:43 am
12 May 2010
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justal
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Aha… I've now been in touch with the local beekeeping association and they were very helpful. I shall be attending a meeting in a week or so and will be given a chance to don some protective equipment and see how I feel during a hive inspection. I'll also be able to chat to the other members and see what they think about keeping bees out here in Ynyslas.
I'm beginning to feel a little more positive about it now and that I may be able to become a beekpeeper afterall.. Ive updated my weblog with my latest thoughts on the location and its potential as a site for a hive or two. I've posted a photo of the spot and it actually looks fiarly sheltered in that so maybe I've been worrying too much about the exposed nature.
http://www.alananna.co.uk/blog…..a-beehive/
Al.
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11:05 am
12 May 2010
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ThePath
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Excellent, the BKA's are normally very helpful so Im sure you are in good hands. Remember and ask how to get your hands on some local bees and even some second hand equipment. They may even help you install them.
Had a look at your hive location pic. It looks fairly sheltered, remember to position it so the bees fly out and are forced up, this is best for a variety of reasons: 1. it gives the bees a good vantage point in which to spot forage and 2. it stops the bees flightpath being an area commonly used by humans and so less collisions will happen.
Well Im glad you have found help and I have been of some.
ps. would appreciate a link back to this site if you could
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1:03 am
13 May 2010
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justal
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Yep, getting quite excited about the prospect of becoming a beekeeper now.
Don't worry I shall write a blog post sometime soon about the books I;ve read, the podcasts I listened to, the blogs I have help from and the people I follow on Twitter as far as beekeeping goes so you'll get a mention there. I was going to wait until i'd bought some kit first though so that I could mention any suppliers I use as well.
Al.
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2:16 am
13 May 2010
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ThePath
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Cool. Well come back soon and I wish you every success with your bees. You'll love the hobby…so much to learn and bees are fascinating, also quite therapuetic to watch!! I dont know if you have a local Thorne shop, but the one 5 miles from me is fantastic, the guy in there really knows his stuff and all the stuff you could need is in there.
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9:03 am
11 May 2011
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justal
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Just thought I'd pop back in and let you know that I am now a 'beekeeper'!
I joined the local association and as a family we attended their beginners course – I'd already read lots of books and online resources so knew most of the content of the course already, but it was good to meet others in the association, make new friends and get some hands on experience.
We bought all the kit, made some hives and then ordered a couple of nucs from local beekeepers. They arrived just over a week ago so we now have two hives in the back garden each with their own developing colony of honeys bees! I guess the real journey begins here.
I've been keeping a blog of our new adventures into beekeeping which you can see here: http://www.alananna.co.uk/blog…..eekeeping/
Al.
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1:55 pm
11 May 2011
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ThePath
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Hi Al,
Thats cool, excellent news. Heres hoping the girls take to the wind  , keep us posted.
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