Hi

[Colin A]

I have recently moved into a house near Grantham (Lincolnshire) and with it 'acquired' a hive full of bees! The former owner asked me if I would like them and so, of course, I said yes please! They are living in a (rather shabby) Top Bar hive in a 1/2 acre apple orchard and they seem to be very happy despite having had no attention for some time (perhaps years?). I have joined the Grantham association and am currently half way through their beginners course. There is a lot to learn of course but they are a very friendly and supportive group.
My motivation to keep bees is mostly from an environment point of view and I am planting additional bee-friendly plants and hope to turn part of the orchard into a wildflower meadow in due course.
I'm looking forward to being part of this forum as I know from other forums (or fora!) how useful they can be. I'm especially interested in hearing from others who have Top Bar hives as specific knowledge and experience of these simple hives seems to be limited.

 

[pargyle]

The specialist on Top Bar Hives is Phil Chandler if you google him you wlll find he has his own forum. However, there are a few on here that run top bar hives - they are an acquired taste and not that easy for a beginner beekeeper but ... it's a hive, they are honey bees and you now are a beekeeper so you've got a steep learning curve ahead of you !

This forum will always help with any beekeeping questions ... its a big community and you will find someone will always be on hand to proferr advice .. good and bad ! Your job will be to decide what you are going to do.

What you really should not do, for a variety of reasons, is just leave the hive and the bees to get on with it. I'd be inclined to get yourself a framed hive of some sort and transfer the bees out of the top bar into it and then you can inspect them more easily, have more control and perhaps build up a bigger apiary in what sounds like an ideal location. More bees will certainly improve your apple crop and perhaps give you some honey to sell as well ...

Good luck with whatever you decide to do .. lots for you to learn so stick around.

 

[Colin A]

Thanks. I have been given similar advice from our local group. My intention is to build a WBC as one of my other hobbies is woodwork (and I like a challenge!). Unfortunately they will have to carry on looking after themselves for a bit longer until I have finished building my new workshop (my current project) and then I think the hive will be (one of) the first projects.

 

[pargyle]

Thanks. I have been given similar advice from our local group. My intention is to build a WBC as one of my other hobbies is woodwork (and I like a challenge!). Unfortunately they will have to carry on looking after themselves for a bit longer until I have finished building my new workshop (my current project) and then I think the hive will be (one of) the first projects.

Getting the lifts right is the hard bit ... inside I would look to keeping the brood boxes a standard nationals ... kit to national size is a lot cheaper and more readily available. WBC's are a pretty hive - invented by a great Yorkshire beekeeper - William Broughton Carr - to provide an insulated hive to accommpdate those cold Yorkshire winters.

These days ... a lot of us use Polystyrene hives which serve the same purpose - perhaps not as aesthetically pleasing.

There were several WBC's that sold for very little money at a recent bee aucton I attended .... was very tempted. I'm a competent DIY'er but I'd never attempt a WBC .. Respect to you ...