Any beekeepers on here?
Discussion
After we moved house a few years ago, I’ve been looking into setting up some hives in the garden, but had been waiting until we had the major house development work completed.
The good news is that this is now mainly complete, but also I’ve found that a family friend keeps bees and is locating for a location to put some hives, so I will have someone to help teach me (although I’m also attending a course starting next month).
I obviously need to buy a beekeeping protective suit, so I’m looking for recommendations - some online searches suggest anything from £50 to almost £500. Something around the £150 mark would appear to fit the brief, but it would be good to hear what other people chose (and how the are getting on).
The good news is that this is now mainly complete, but also I’ve found that a family friend keeps bees and is locating for a location to put some hives, so I will have someone to help teach me (although I’m also attending a course starting next month).
I obviously need to buy a beekeeping protective suit, so I’m looking for recommendations - some online searches suggest anything from £50 to almost £500. Something around the £150 mark would appear to fit the brief, but it would be good to hear what other people chose (and how the are getting on).
There are a couple of beekeepers… dickymint has a thread on them.
I have several suits.
1) a basic smock from Thornes with peaked hat/veil - a standby that lives in the garage
2) a couple of better smocks from beeprogear (USA) with mesh rather than fabric and fencing veil - I use this most, especially for routine inspections.
3) a couple of full suits with fencing veil from beeprogear - i use this when climbing trees/doing extractions (I don’t usually smoke for those) or with very grumpy hives.
(The only reason for having a couple of 2+3 is that I’ve got a second apiary a few miles away and can’t be bothered with moving basic stuff between them!)
Plus various lower grade ones for visitors who just want to see the bees. MrsLT has a ludicrously expensive one for people allergic to bee stings (probably one of the £500 ones you’ve found). Also mesh but thick enough to prevent hornet stings getting through. It’s not as flexible as mine.
Personally I’d go mesh over fabric every time now. The beepro ones are good, but expensive once shipping/duty is included, they also have a slight design flaw insofar as the cuffs are fabric but a bit too thin (can be stung through if you don’t wear gauntlets that extend over them). I’d probably suggest having a look at theirs and then finding a UK equivalent.
Whatever you get, you want the veil held away from your face and the ability to keep sun out of your eyes. That’s why the “traditional” style was popular, but fencing veils are less bulky and shade can always be sorted by a baseball cap under the suit if needed.
Don’t forget wellies. Bees have a habit of finding ankles…
If I were you I’d also get set up with an empty nuc box/hive as it wouldn’t surprise me if people got caught out with early swarming this year so you might well need to split/be able to catch a swarm.
I have several suits.
1) a basic smock from Thornes with peaked hat/veil - a standby that lives in the garage
2) a couple of better smocks from beeprogear (USA) with mesh rather than fabric and fencing veil - I use this most, especially for routine inspections.
3) a couple of full suits with fencing veil from beeprogear - i use this when climbing trees/doing extractions (I don’t usually smoke for those) or with very grumpy hives.
(The only reason for having a couple of 2+3 is that I’ve got a second apiary a few miles away and can’t be bothered with moving basic stuff between them!)
Plus various lower grade ones for visitors who just want to see the bees. MrsLT has a ludicrously expensive one for people allergic to bee stings (probably one of the £500 ones you’ve found). Also mesh but thick enough to prevent hornet stings getting through. It’s not as flexible as mine.
Personally I’d go mesh over fabric every time now. The beepro ones are good, but expensive once shipping/duty is included, they also have a slight design flaw insofar as the cuffs are fabric but a bit too thin (can be stung through if you don’t wear gauntlets that extend over them). I’d probably suggest having a look at theirs and then finding a UK equivalent.
Whatever you get, you want the veil held away from your face and the ability to keep sun out of your eyes. That’s why the “traditional” style was popular, but fencing veils are less bulky and shade can always be sorted by a baseball cap under the suit if needed.
Don’t forget wellies. Bees have a habit of finding ankles…
If I were you I’d also get set up with an empty nuc box/hive as it wouldn’t surprise me if people got caught out with early swarming this year so you might well need to split/be able to catch a swarm.
Brief update.
A few weeks ago I went round to my friend’s house, so got the chance to try on my suit and help him with the inspection of his hives, I was surprisingly comfortable being in the thick of it with bees flying round my head etc, although in truth they were fairly relaxed.
I think the key thing was not to try and brush them off the suit and just let them chill.
I’ve decided not to populate my hives at the current time, but will continue to build my confidence / knowledge at the local apiary, and then potentially get in some bees to look after over winter, ready to start in earnest next year.
A few weeks ago I went round to my friend’s house, so got the chance to try on my suit and help him with the inspection of his hives, I was surprisingly comfortable being in the thick of it with bees flying round my head etc, although in truth they were fairly relaxed.
I think the key thing was not to try and brush them off the suit and just let them chill.
I’ve decided not to populate my hives at the current time, but will continue to build my confidence / knowledge at the local apiary, and then potentially get in some bees to look after over winter, ready to start in earnest next year.
Try to get yourself onto a bee-keeping course. I did one near Swindon, run by an amazing old chap who was selectively breeding mite-resistant bees. Then vandals came alond and burned down his building and hives.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8130539/V...
But anyway I learned loads about beekeeping I'd never have considered.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8130539/V...
But anyway I learned loads about beekeeping I'd never have considered.
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff