Bees in allotments

[Poggle]

Poggle, what green paint did you use? We need to weather proof our spares this year. Many thanks

Cuprinol water based Paint. Linseed/Teak oil is much superior but costs an arm and a leg!!!!

John

 

[bellabee]

Thank you

I recently tried with left over melted bees wax and linseed oil, results were very messy. I ended up with lots of passing insects stuck to it and a few bees and wasps coming to have a look. I will be trying Cuprinol next year thanks.

 

[Poggle]

Although, a few weeks ago, our local "expert" in everything that has a plot not far away from me, decided to let me into his dads biggest hive painting secret. "All tha 'ave ter do lad is paint the bloody thing wiv old car oil!! Jest slap in on lad when bees are in at night, my old dad swore by it an it never 'armed bees!".............I refrained from asking if his "old dad" wore a bee suit whilst "slapping it on"...............

 

[bellabee]

Jeeeessssssss!!! Really. Old car oil!!!

Um. I might give that one a miss!

"when bees are in at night" genius!!

 

[psafloyd]

We recently had to renew our leases and I made sure bees were specifically named as being allowed, because previously all live animals had been banned.
This was because it was a standard document, even though statutory allotment legislation makes some alloance for hens and rabbits, apparently.
In any case, the council had no reservations and amended the clause and the society will insist anyone keeping bees is registered and carries insurance.

 

[Poggle]

In any case, the council had no reservations and amended the clause and the society will insist anyone keeping bees is registered and carries insurance.

I have been saying this to our chairman of the allotments society. Any bee keeper comin gon the site MUST be part of an association AND carry insurance. It is good that, in joining a bee keeping society it should auomatically get the person around 5 million in insurance. There is other things involved like specific amounts per pound of honey lost etc ans so frotht hat I am not going into right now. I only know about shooting in-sewer-ants, not bee in-sewer-ants. ( with thanks to Mr Terry Pratchett).

 

[mocko]

Hi There,

had my 2 colonies on for 4/5 months now and doing very well. Absolutely no problems with the neighbours and nobody stung (yet). Attached a few pictures of my set up. Was cheap to make and allows maximum light and viewing for people daring enough to look closer. The mesh (scaffold netting) is 7ft high which allows the bees to be above head height leaving and coming back to the hive.

I did have lots of problems with the council and a few plotholder's being irritating but its all worked out in the end!

Andrew

p.s. apiary does have a door now

 

[Poggle]

Now then!!! That IS POSH!!!! I might just copy this setup for next season!!!

 

[bellabee]

Yes I am VERY impressed

Did it take long to build?

 

[mocko]

Glad you like it!

The scaffold netting was from eBay at £30 with some recycled wooden posts. Some weed retardant for the floor with wood chip beneath.

Took 2 days to make with me and my dad. The great thing is that light levels are not affected and the wind will not stretch the netting. You could also put chicken wire round if you was concern re:security

Andy

 

[oliver90owner]

Just trying to work out the strap arrangement on the left hive. It doesn't appear to go all around the hive and may be lifting the roof slightly? If it is, I hope you have the crownboard sealed.

I only strap my timber hives together if there is a risk of them getting knocked over or during the winter, if the propolis seal has been broken.

RAB

 

[Onge]

Hi There,

had my 2 colonies on for 4/5 months now and doing very well. Absolutely no problems with the neighbours and nobody stung (yet). Attached a few pictures of my set up. Was cheap to make and allows maximum light and viewing for people daring enough to look closer. The mesh (scaffold netting) is 7ft high which allows the bees to be above head height leaving and coming back to the hive.

I did have lots of problems with the council and a few plotholder's being irritating but its all worked out in the end!

Andrew

p.s. apiary does have a door now

That is exactly the same set up as I have been using for the last 4 years.

 

[wino]

allotment bees

i keep my hives on our allotment most important is where you site them on our site we are right in the corner on a slope bees are on the highest point with a fence around them to encourage them to fly above head height coming and going but we see them all over the site most of the plot holders love seeing them in there plots and always asking what to plant to attract more

 

[alanf]

I only strap my timber hives together if there is a risk of them getting knocked over or during the winter, if the propolis seal has been broken.

On an allotment there is always the risk of some young ***** being dared to kick a hive over. Not every site and not every year but straps are used to protect the bees and the neighbours. Some round here strap the hive down to eye bolts in a 50mm flagstone base.

 

[Travelator]

I think the appearance of a lifted lid is an optical illusion. Looks as if the photo was taken with a very wide angle lens, and this has distorted things a bit.

 

[oliver90owner]

optical illusion.

Not convinced. I cannot see the strap under the hive on the left side of that hive. Unless the hook is onto the stand at that side..... if on the lip of the roof, it may well be slightly tipped...in which case the crownboard could be too....

 

[Tom Bick]

Its distortion on the photo Rab either that or the whole hive is out of square by a couple of inches. Look at the roof its parallel with the bottom rail the sun is throwing a shadow this would not be parallel if the roof is not on straight.

As for the strap they are made to strap things much bigger than a hive and as a result you have about 6’ spare webbing and its this that is wrapped around the base.

 

[oliver90owner]

Yes Tom, I can se that, but I am asking where is the hook on the end of the strap; it does not appearr to be under the hive.

 

[Tom Bick]

Not all straps have hooks.

And even if they do why would you see it as it will be obscured by the hive as with the hive on the right.

 

[busybee53]

What a lovely lot of replies. I am so glad I asked. My set up will be like yours Mocko except that instead of 2 days it is more like 2 years. We had a working party with the other plot holders helping to put in the recycled timbers but are waiting for the mesh. I keep the bees elsewhere until its ready.

The Insurance, holiday cover, swarm collection, height of fence/flight path, gate and sign are all ok but I will check out the bonfire issue. We are not allowed them on site (don't get me started on that one) but the houses around the site can still have bonfires.

I will also have to think about how to strap down a hive and how to inspect a strapped hive as I am not used to it.

You can't stop theft and vandalism, even from out BBKA apiaries around here, unfortunately.

Thanks Poggle for the offer of allotment discussion. I have had mine for some time but you can always learn something new. I will check out your pics next.