Hi

Me and two other people are thinking of getting hives to start beekeeping on our allotments.
Question is what sort of equipment is needed, are there any courses around the Lancaster area and is there a good beginners advice book.

Thanks in advance

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Cheers Chris

Its only a chilli if it burns your mouth

My husband found his beekeeping course after going to a talk on it advertised in the local library, so it's worth looking on their noticeboards. Failing that, this site Beekeeping Courses UK Beekeeping for Beginners and Advanced Beekeepers has details of beekeeping courses all over the country.

As for books, there is Teach yourself bee-keeping by Claire and Adrian Waring and the "bible" is Guide to Bees and Honey by Ted Hooper.

Bees start swarming in May (husband is outside in a very attractive bee suit as we speak, building new frames for a hastily-added hive after missing some queen cells in one of his hives with the result that half the hive swarmed and are even now in an upside-down cardboard box in a bush in the garden) so if you get on a course now, you may be in luck with getting your own hives quite soon.

Best of luck with it and hope this helps.

Hi Chrichmond. Have a look at the British Bee Keepers Association they might have a group that meets near to you.
I am so pleased - another bee keeper! Best place to start really is the Web! you can find out so much! I could list all here, but the good old web will do a far better job than I ever could. Local colleges may run courses. If all fails. See if you can find a local bee keeper, farmers markets, country shops will no doubt sell local honey. There should be a contact on the jar. Get in touch, maybe they would help you, most beekeepers are only to willing to show someone the ropes and help them to get started!

Good luck and please keep me posted!

Thanks for the info both, I will be joining my local group (Lancaster and district bee keeping association) this week.

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Cheers Chris

Its only a chilli if it burns your mouth

Right here is the situation, we got definate permission today from the allotment committee and I am going to join the local bee keeping group, I am not going to get bees this year (my decision) as I want to learn at least the basics first because getting the bees before then would be detrimental to the colony in my opinion. so I am planning on joining with a view to learning first and then I will get a colony at the begining of next years season.

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Cheers Chris

Its only a chilli if it burns your mouth

That sounds a very good idea, you must do what is right for you, all people are different.
You will love having bees, I am very glad your allotment committee are saying YES! to bees, we need more like them!
Bee keeping is like most things, you learn most of it as you go! I am testament to that!!
and sadly you learn most and quickest by your mistakes....again I know all about that!
So, if you get the chance to get your girls........GO FOR IT! and you will throughly enjoy it!
Please keep me posted, its so good to have more bee keepers (nice for me, more people to talk 'bees' with

Well as with everything else I do I have been impatient and won an ebay auction for a 6 frame honey extractor and a honey strainer for £40 excellent price I thought, I just need to collect them at the weekend.

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Cheers Chris

Its only a chilli if it burns your mouth

Well done you!!! you are on your way now.
Have you found anyone in your area who keeps bees? What about a course?
What about a bee hive? go on be a devil! I mean how else will you be able to find out if the extractor works