23 Jan Bringing Bees to the City Part2
Beekeeping in the city FAQ
How do you do it?
Keeping bees takes knowledge, practice and a bit of luck. Bees get on with things themselves and all we need to do is make sure they are doing it in a healthy and happy way. You need a bit of equipment before you get going including a hive, a smoker and a bee suit and gloves.
How much time does it take?
Bees are not like a dog. There’s little feeding and no walks. You’ll only need to check on your bees from the spring through to autumn and then it’s only a couple of hours a week. If you go away, you can skip the odd week here and there with a few precautions in place.
How much does it cost?
Unfortunately the set up costs of beekeeping aren’t cheap these days.
A hive and all the equipment can cost between £350-£500, then there’s the bee suit, anything from £20-£100, and the bees themselves cost £150 this summer.
You could get a swarm of bees free from a beekeepers if you are very lucky, but demand is so high from new beekeepers that it is advised to buy your bees – then you are not leaving things to chance. So in total, it could cost you £750 to get going. But after the initial outlay, the annual outgoings are maybe £200 a year.
So, it’s not a cheap way to produce honey! There is, however, a lot of choice out there. You can buy budget or the best. Check out our links page for beekeeping suppliers and browse their sites for an idea of the cost.
What about the neighbours?
It’s a good idea to tell immediate neighbours you are going to be keeping bees, but there are no laws that say you have to.
Bees are only interested in nectar and pollen from flowers, unlike wasps which are carniverous, so the bees should not bother your neighbours. Once people know this they usually have no problem.
The only time bee can become defensive and are more likely to sting is when the beekeeper opens up and inspects the hive. So it is advisable to do this weekly hive inspection when neighbours are not around.
Source: Urban Bees