Cautiously optimistic newbie!

[fizzle]

Not another Corkonian! Sister moved down there years ago and now have a Corkonian niece who happens to be a good runner. Wouldn't blame her lol.

Welcome to the forum

 

[Antipodes]

I placed an order with Thorne this morning for their sale. Because the weather was terrible, my wife suggested we drive to collect the order and have a look around the shop. (Am I the luckiest man alive?! )

What a great place to visit. I was like a kid in a sweet shop. I got a few bits, including the Dadant smoker.

Here are some photos of the little museum they have set up. (I really enjoyed that part.)

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I also got my Honey Paw hives painted:

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I went for a sandstone colour and I'm really pleased with it. My wife helped and it took us about 3 hours to do two coats on three full hives.

Fabulous.
I don't have any antique beekeeping stuff but I was wondering, does anyone else have any photos of old beekeeping equipment? Old hive tools or smokers? Love to see some please.

 

[Antipodes]

Fabulous.
I don't have any antique beekeeping stuff but I was wondering, does anyone else have any photos of old beekeeping equipment? Old hive tools or smokers? Love to see some please.

Perhaps all hive tools eventually get permanently lost? Very few antique ones about. Smokers and uncapping knives...seem to be plenty. Do any second, or third (or more) generation beekeepers have the original one?
https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/402509285432706941/

 

[enrico]

Perhaps all hive tools eventually get permanently lost? Very few antique ones about. Smokers and uncapping knives...seem to be plenty. Do any second, or third (or more) generation beekeepers have the original one?
https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/402509285432706941/

I have my original hive tool. Simple J tool, Spent many hours looking for it but always found it! Still have my original straw hat and veil too but no suit to put it on! slip it over my head when strimming round hives

 

[monoenduro]

Hi,

I thought I'd make an introduction, though there's not much to say as I'm completely new to this hobby.

I don't currently have a hive and I've never kept bees. I've recently taken an interest in the hobby having seen a small apiary in a park that's local to me. I've always had a fondness for bees being a fan of macro photography and keen on conservation. I've decided I'd like to be more active in creating a space for bees.

Here are a few shots I've taken of various bees (not all honey bees of course):

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I'm in the process of buying 9.5 acres of land in Nottinghamshire. The land is being purchased primarily for the purpose of grazing horses. My wife has two horses, so 9.5 acres is an awful lot of land for them to use. I've managed to secure some for my own use. (It's only fair, I'm paying for half of it! )

I'm planning to put it to use in multiple ways:

• I'm going to plant an orchard of fruit and nut producing trees.
• I'm going to create a herb garden.
• I'm going to create a wild-flower meadow.
• I'm going to create a space for keeping honey bees.

I'm hoping that the above all compliment each other, but more importantly I'm hoping it compliments the bees.

My wife is keen on conservation too, and she loves honey, so she's all for it.

I'm currently reading the 'BBKA Guide to Beekeeping' and doing research on the internet. I'm a complete novice, so I'm conscious of avoiding bad advice and bad practice, so aside from the book I'm reading and this forum, which looks fantastic, I'd be very grateful for recommendations for other online resources I can use, such as well-regarded YouTube channels.

Thanks and all the best.

BB

Hi, I've just joined this forum and yours is the first post I thought I'd read. I have approx 4 acres. My god friend Francis owns a lot of the fields near by as well as the huge field around our property. My advice to you is: if there's water nearby then that will suffice. Go ahead plant trees but just let the fields go to grass land. Keep it simple.

My wife would mow our plot s couple of times a month nice and short, prim and proper. Just let it go wild with a couple of well positioned paths. A couple of years later you will have acres of beautiful meadow.

You won't believe how wonderful it is to walk through the area and enjoy the wildlife. Mainly insects for sure but everything that that attracts as well.

Anyway hope that helps.