{"id":61,"date":"2020-01-15T20:18:02","date_gmt":"2020-01-15T20:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beverleybeekeepers.co.uk\/2020\/?page_id=61"},"modified":"2020-03-31T19:42:08","modified_gmt":"2020-03-31T19:42:08","slug":"getting-started","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.beverleybeekeepers.co.uk\/2020\/getting-started\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting started"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Starting Out, Time and Commitment?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have thought about becoming a beekeeper, or are just interested in bees and beehive products, here are some answers to common questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"WBC
WBC Hive<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Managing one or two hives requires about two hours of your time every week between April and September.  Less time is required in the winter months, which allows for reading about bees, attending association winter meetings, equipment maintenance and enjoying your honey harvest as well as planning for next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to keep Bees?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bees will fly up to 3 miles to reach flowers, passing over some gardens when seeking attractive plants to collect the nectar and pollen they require. What is important is not necessarily having a large garden but that you plan screens, fences or hedges around your hives so that the bees will fly above head height to reach the flowers. This helps keep them away from your neighbours. To avoid spoiling your neighbour\u2019s enjoyment of their garden your hives and the bee\u2019s flight paths to and from the hives should be positioned to avoid areas where people congregate e.g. patios, sunbathing spots, children\u2019s playgrounds etc. Before acquiring bees we recommend that you always seek advice from an experienced beekeeper about the siting of hives and then discuss your plans with neighbours!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honey and products of the beehive.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honey is the bees\u2019 food store. How much a beekeeper can remove depends on the amount of stores in the hive. Honey production is dependent on the weather, the abundance of local forage (flower, crops etc.) and the strength of the honeybee colony.  To survive the winter months, when forage is very limited, the bees must store sufficient honey. The beekeeper has to leave enough honey for the bees to survive into spring allowing the colony to expand and increase the number of bees to provide more honey in the following season. Other hive products include wax which has numerous uses e.g. polish; candles and cosmetics, and propolis used for medicinal purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stings?    <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all get stung from time to time but this can be minimised by the way the bees are handled. Our courses will show you methods which cause least upset to the bees. Bees are protective of their colony and, if upset, will defend the colony to the point of self sacrifice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More information on bees stings.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cost to Start?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When starting the hobby we suggest that you buy only the essentials but ensure that you allow funding for sufficient equipment to cope with colony growth and management. You will need personal protective clothing, smoker, hive tools etc. \u2018Getting started\u2019 basic requirements can vary, but including 2 empty hives, experience suggest an outlay of \u00a3350-\u00a3500. New equipment can be expensive; most beekeepers often use \u2018seconds\u2019 quality hive parts bought during sales. Equipment manufacturer\u2019s websites will show the relevant costs and sale events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Springtime Beekeeping Auctions often include used equipment. Seek advice as different types of hives are not interchangeable and quality varies. DIY hive making requires some skills and advice is included in our courses. Honey extractors can be borrowed from the Beverley Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buying Bees:<\/strong> Prices vary according to availability and the colony size. Bees (preferably locally adapted bees) should be purchased only from known, disease-free sources e.g. our association members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should seek advice before acquiring equipment and bees, especially in relation to the equipment quantity that you will need and when considering pre-owned hive parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Learn about Beekeeping?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beverley Beekeepers\u2019 Association holds a 6 week evening practical course <\/a>for beginners during May and June at our apiary located close to Beverley. taster sessions <\/a>may also be arranged for those who wish to find out if beekeeping is an appropriate hobby for them. Experienced beekeepers are on hand to instruct, advise and answer any questions. You will learn the basics of bee-keeping:<\/p>\n\n\n\n