River Cottage "natural beekeeping"

[emmac79]

I wish I had the technical skill. It’s certainly worth paying for.
They do look beautiful.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The log hive on stilts is about £750 so that prices a lot of people out the market

I'm sure they are more tailored for the gullible with more money than sense so there shouldn't be a problem shifting them

 

[emmac79]

He’s doing very well. Good for him, I say.

 

[TomH]

People are always quick to criticise a ‘simple’ idea that isn’t theirs. Good for him, find a market, make a product, advertise, sell it. More to it than just hollowing out a log.

 

[Erichalfbee]

What do you do about swarming?

 

[TomH]

Presumably, nothing.

 

[Mint Bee]

And inspections for disease?

 

[Boston Bees]

What do you do about swarming?

Same as you do with your tree hive?

 

[jeff33]

Are we concluding his natural beekeeping experiment is as disappointing as his cooking?

 

[TomH]

And inspections for disease?

I wonder how many tree/log hive owners there are? Would hazard a guess there are just as many, if not more unregistered beekeepers, or abandoned hives that aren't listed on beebase, that are also blissfully unaware of foulbrood.

Not saying it's right or wrong, but before we start slinging mud, these aren't problems specific to natural beekeeping. Experienced beekeepers with managed hives still lose swarms, lots of beekeepers are unregistered and won't get beebase notifications, nothing to do with the box you keep them in.

 

[Wilco]

I wonder how many tree/log hive owners there are? Would hazard a guess there are just as many, if not more unregistered beekeepers, or abandoned hives that aren't listed on beebase, that are also blissfully unaware of foulbrood.

Not saying it's right or wrong, but before we start slinging mud, these aren't problems specific to natural beekeeping. Experienced beekeepers with managed hives still lose swarms, lots of beekeepers are unregistered and won't get beebase notifications, nothing to do with the box you keep them in.

I took it as a question not mud slinging. Certain hive styles make it harder to inspect. Arguably those interested in inspecting for disease and swarm control are less likely to choose those type of designs, so I doubt there is an even distribution of beekeeping approaches across the different hive designs.

Your other points are valid but I don't think they invalidate the question. Don't forget to factor in feral/wild colonies.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Same as you do with your tree hive?

I usually catch them.
And it was a simple question not loaded in any way with no implications

 

[TomH]

I took it as a question not mud slinging. Certain hive styles make it harder to inspect. Arguably those interested in inspecting for disease and swarm control are less likely to choose those type of designs, so I doubt there is an even distribution of beekeeping approaches across the different hive designs.

Your other points are valid but I don't think they invalidate the question. Don't forget to factor in feral/wild colonies.

Thanks Wilco, yes I agree it is a complete unknown the actual distribution of hive types, feral colonies and the like. Of all the swarms I've caught or collected (that were not my own), i've only ever had one with a marked queen, so always curious as to where they actually come from.

As for the beekeeping/beehaving, I think it's a case of finding out a regime that works for you. Like so many others i started out with bees at the bottom of the garden, but soon found some lovely out apiaries, after the second visit to the neighbours garden to collect one of my own swarms! I'm sure many log hive owners in urban areas will have the same realisation at some point.

I've been lucky enough to have been taught by some fantastic natural beekeepers, and i've learnt a lot of the more conventional approach from this forum (and Black Mountain honey videos!). My own beekeeping is somewhere inbetween the two, and I try and draw from both, always thinking what's best for the bees and still leaves me feeling responsible.

Sorry @Mint Bee I wasn't trying to accuse you specifically of mud slinging, it is a good question - just a bit of a defensive reaction on my part, from experience of how these threads often turn out and fear of raising my head above the parapet

 

[Boston Bees]

I usually catch them.

You think

Just joshing. We all lose swarms.

 

[JamezF]

So you have one or more of these rocket hives complete with bees when one day a bee disease inspector knocks on your door (I know it's not actually likely to happen that way) and says "There have been recurring outbreaks of EFB in the area and I've been told you have bees though they're not recorded on BeeBase. I really need to inspect them please." What do you do? Tell them it's not possible and expect them to go away unconcerned?

James

 

[Erichalfbee]

What would the bee inspector do? Destroy them anyway? Or what?

 

[emmac79]

I’ve seen log hives with removable frames. But HFW one isn’t one of them (I don’t think).

He’ll need stilts.

Maybe ask Hugh?

 

[JamezF]

I think having removable frames would help, though I guess you'd still need to remove them on a regular basis for them to remain removable. After a couple of years of being left alone I bet there's pretty much no way you'd get them out without putting the colony at risk.

James

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

What would the bee inspector do? Destroy them anyway? Or what?

If there was any inkling they may be diseased and they couldn't access the brood, yes, the bees and probably the 'hive' would be destroyed.

 

[TomH]

I guess it’s a bit like dunking witches! Have to cut them out to inspect, by which time it’s probably too late if they are disease free? Or they’d end up rehomed in a conventional hive…

How much authority do bee inspectors have? Hypothetically, what would happen with abandoned hives in a disease area, do they have the power to inspect/destroy them without any knowledge of the owner?