4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[redhotchick]

This is good news for Bees (and Beekeepers!)

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/21/bee_health_funding/

[Phoebe]

And the rest of us - without bees, life would be unthinkable, no fruit, flowers or vegetables.....

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I've been wondering whether to go down the route of a hive...must do some research into the pros & cons.

 

Sha x

[redhotchick]

I've been wondering whether to go down the route of a hive...must do some research into the pros & cons.

 

Sha x

 

Look for a course local to you. They may start in March (they do round here anyway)

or a local Beekeeping Organisation. They will give you all the information you need.

 

I keep thinking about it too. My gut feeling is that my neighbours are all too close. My house is semi detached and more semi-detached gardens backing on to my garden. I could always keep a hive somewhere else though, and the local beekeepers would probably be able to advise me on that. I really should get myself onto a course for a start!

[Olly]

I'm in about the same position as you, redhotchick - semi-detached suburbia, and neighbours at one side and behind my house have young children. I've always wanted to keep bees, in fact it's a dream that pre-dates the desire to keep chickens!

 

I've spoken to people who say it is possible to keep bees in this sort of setting, for example you can position the hive so that they fly up rather than across neighbours' gardens, and colonies of bees can be bred to be particularly docile.

 

I would never have believed you could keep chickens in a back garden, a few years ago, so I am optimistic!

 

Google for your local bee-keeping association, I found a course running locally for the princely sum of £35 for six evenings plus an apiary visit, and it starts in two weeks! I want to find out as much as I can about it, to see if it's a possibility. If not, I'll be looking for a local place to site them, I have a couple of options in mind!

[redhotchick]

Olly you just inspired me to Google it, the course I have had my eye on is usually in March. This year it is a weekend in April that I can't make. There are 2 other options for me though. Either a one day course, some miles from home or a six week evening course, I will definitely miss one of the evenings.

I've sent an e-mail expressing my interest in one of the courses! It's a start! Have you enrolled on the course you mentioned?

 

My OH is dead against the bees, but then he was dead against the chickens

[Clur]

I've spoken to someone recently about it too, and she used to have a hive in her back garden. The bees do tend to fly upwards, and it's something I'd love to do - hubby's more keen. Think it's quite an investment getting set up, so probably something for the future, but definitely on our mind (and we live slap-bang in the middle of a modern-ish housing estate).

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Found a course running at one of the local schools, starts in April about £58 for 8 wk course, does that sound about right? Will request a "prospectus". It's like getting chooks all over again!

 

Sha x

[Clur]

Found a course running at one of the local schools, starts in April about £58 for 8 wk course, does that sound about right? Will request a "prospectus". It's like getting chooks all over again!

 

Sha x

 

Blimey, they want £105 for the course round here

[MedusA]

For some time now, DD and I have been seriously thinking about getting in to beekeeping. We are going to go along to our local Beekeeping group when they start the new year in April. We'll help out at first, whilst finding out if it's something we can do together, before making the leap of getting our own hive.

 

Really good news that the government is taking this seriously, at last. I believe that the stats are - if the bees go, we have 4 years!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

***Gulp***

 

Sha x

[Lesley]

Definitely attend one of the courses - they are well worth it.

 

We started with a course at Stoneleigh, Warks. where the National Beekeepers Assoc. is based, then we attended the Stratford one as a top-up once we had bees. It all makes a lot more sense once you actually have bees

 

Beekeepers are very keen to pass on their knowledge and will welcome newcomers with open arms. There is so much help offered and also most groups offer mentoring.

 

You can keep bees in suburbia - something as simple as putting some sort of 'wall' 6' in front of the hive will ensure that the bees will fly upwards and won't bother your neighbours. The beekeepers will also advise on siting your hive.

 

The more the merrier.......then come and join the beekeeping chat in Self Sufficiency

[Olly]

Well a friend sent me details for this course, which looks lovely - but it's a lot of money! That got me searching for my County (Essex) beekeeping association, which led to a link to the local group, and the discovery that I could do the six-week course for £35. There's also an advantage to meeting a local group, as there are probably people with kit to sell, they will know local suppliers etc.

 

Yes, I have enrolled Redhotchick, and last weekend I was speaking to a friend's husband, who says his parents used to keep bees in a tiny garden in the middle of Lincoln. He's quite keen to have a go, so I'm trying to persuade him to come on the course too.

 

I might decide it's not for me, but I am very keen to find out!

[redhotchick]

The courses by me are £20! Bargain!

 

six evenings 2 hours each plus a hive visit, or one full Saturday.

 

I'd rather do it in one hit, but the 6 evening course is more local for me. With all the benefits mentioned above.

 

Decisions, decisions...

[Charlottechicken]

Wasn't there a young man who kept bees on top of buildings in London? Or was it some other major city

[redhotchick]

I think it was London.

 

It's not the "urban-ness" that puts me off. Bees will fly a long way to find food.

It's the possibility of my neighbours getting stung!

[Lesley]

Our local group is actively breeding and introducing the traditional British Black Bees which are friendly and more docile than some of the European bees.

 

People have been buying European queens and cross breeding.

 

We were lucky because the swarm we collected last June were black bees and they are a drream to handle. We're hoping to divide ours this year and have two hives of them.

[sam42]

I've just started an 8 week course in Northampton, which was £35. Went to the first class on saturday and there were nearly 40 in the class. I would like them in the garden but OH wary of stinging the neighbours but am thinking of using a screen to encourage them to fly upwards.

[redhotchick]

40! That sounds like a healthy interest.

Good news for Bees!

I keep ringing the contact nr. for a course but haven't managed to get through yet

[Olly]

Keep trying redhotchick - I want to be able to swap notes with you once you've started your course!