Permanent Observation Hives

[BrianO]

Hi

Anyone know of anyone who keps a colony sited permanently in a large observation hive. As in sited indoors , entrance out window or wall. Talking about one of the full height versions housing approx 8 frames in doubles, 4 high. ?

Cheers

Brian.

 

[coatesg]

The Natural History Museum here in Oxford has a large observation hive in the "bee room" with the entrance via a tunnel outside. Would love to know how they deal with swarm management, etc...

See: http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/collect/beehive.htm

Good way to waste a lunchtime hunting the queen down...

 

[Finno]

I think I saw one in Willie Robson's operation (Chain Bridge Honey Farm)

 

[Poly Hive]

If you run the frames "in doubles" ie pairs then the queen will most likely rarely be seen. All the big Ob setups I have seen have single frames.

PH

 

[Quis Custodiet]

Hi

Anyone know of anyone who keps a colony sited permanently in a large observation hive. As in sited indoors , entrance out window or wall. Talking about one of the full height versions housing approx 8 frames in doubles, 4 high. ?

Cheers

Brian.

I know of at least one such hive.

 

[Zante]

London Zoo also has one on permanent display, or at least it had last time I visited it.

 

[BrianO]

Thanks, would love to see one , yes , double frames would lead to Queen not being seen. Would love to also hear about the management regime.

 

[peterbees]

Google Hornimans Museum London beehive. I saw their observation hive as a child, some 55 years ago. It was my first exposure to bees.

 

[BrianO]

Hi All

Revisiting this topic, any other info on impressive permanent Observation Hives you know of in the UK or anywhere else in Europe ?? Thanks !

 

[Hivemaker.]

any other info on impressive permanent Observation Hives you know of in the UK

https://www.quincehoneyfarm.co.uk/family-visit/bee-world/

 

[thedozzer]

Hi All

Revisiting this topic, any other info on impressive permanent Observation Hives you know of in the UK or anywhere else in Europe ?? Thanks !

if you ever go to New Zealand there is honey farm http://www.aratakihoneyhb.co.nz/visitor_centre.html that has a large Observation hive, its about 4ft high and around 6ft wide on the back wall of the visitor centre. and as a bonus you can taste around 20 different honeys for free

 

[alfazer]

if you ever go to New Zealand there is honey farm http://www.aratakihoneyhb.co.nz/visitor_centre.html that has a large Observation hive, its about 4ft high and around 6ft wide on the back wall of the visitor centre. and as a bonus you can taste around 20 different honeys for free

Another good one at the Huka Honey Hive centre near Taupo NZ. I think visiting this place was the final link in the chain that got me started in beekeeping.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

New Quay honey farm in Ceredigion have a few I believe.
They also used to have one on the quayside in Aberaeron at the honey icecream kiosk, don't know whether they still do.

 

[Curley]

New Quay honey farm in Ceredigion have a few I believe.
They also used to have one on the quayside in Aberaeron at the honey icecream kiosk, don't know whether they still do.

New Quay had 5 or 6 very grand ones when I visited earlier this year, including one which the frames are separated on a pulley system - don't know whether they all are kept going through winter but some of the comb looked pretty old.

 

[Worldsend]

Cumberland House Museum Portsmouth has permanent display

 

[SDM]

I know of at least one such hive.

Ive got one all glass, brood and 2 supers standard national.
Currently unoccupied.
As it was explained to me swarming is allowed to happen, bees temporarily relocated for hive/glass cleaning once a year. You could combine cleaning with a heavy split pre swarm season, but in reality its a case of just try to catch them when they do swarm

 

[Vortex]

Wildwood in Kent have a 10 frame Langstroth with glass sides on permanent view.It's in a hide with an outside entrance through the wall. The inside of the hide is lit by low level LED solar lighting.

 

[BrianO]

Thanks All

Appreciate the info, some interesting links

This one fascinated me, as opposed to all the other ob.Hives that allow a bee space between glass and comb here they have the hive setup more like a zoo type exhibition, for want of a better term.

As in bees are allowed build wild comb, quite interesting. They must allow unhindered swarming . https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Attracti...ationId=101&albumid=101&filter=7&ff=281753501

This also was interesting but I presume now defunct as no new posts about it in The Natural History Museum
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/blogs/whats-new/tags/beekeeping.html

Also along the same lines as New Quay this one in the Netherlands
https://www.flickr.com/photos/42642055@N00/1343617277/in/photostream/

Anyone know of any more and also how they are maintained ?

Thanks

Brian.

 

[Ian123]

Ive manipulated a similar 1 run at a friends teaching set up. It was basically a metre square perspex box on stand, there was a hinged roof on top but below this the crown board was made up of waxed top bars so you could go through the odd time if you wished, but very much left alone. You effectively had a big square top bar hive on a stand that meant if you did go in you needed a step ladder

 

[Poly Hive]

The huge issue is warmth as on a single frame configuration the heat loss is terrific.

There was one at Craibstone but more often than not it died off in Winter despite warming cables and insulation.

PH