New Forest Beekeepers' Association - New Forest Bees - Hampshire Beekeepers - Faqs

NEW FOREST BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

Frequently Asked Questions

How easy is it to keep bees

Bees don’t take too much looking after. You don’t have to clean them  out, take them for walks or feed them every day. One or two hives can take around an hour of work a week between April and October. Hives need looking at every 7 – 8 days during the Summer, making it an ideal weekend interest. The basic techniques of beekeeping are easy to learn and you don’t need  technical or scientific knowledge.

Do I need a big garden?

Bees will fly up to 3 miles to reach flowers, so if you live in the town  they will fly over your neighbours gardens and into the surrounding area. What is important is not necessarily a big garden but you do need to have high fences or hedges around your beehives. Bees will fly up over the fences and stay high until they reach the flowers. This will keep them above head height and away from neighbours. You don’t want to spoil your neighbours enjoyment of their garden and area, so don’t site your hives near patios, favourite sunbathing spots, children's playgrounds or anywhere that people will congregate. Always get advice about siting hives before you get bees.

How much honey could I get?

A hive at the bottom of your garden could produce 30 – 90 lbs of honey a year. This depends on the weather, the amount of flowers in the area and how you look after your bees. If you move hives around to where the flowers are (called migratory beekeeping) then you can increase your crop of honey. We typically move beehives to oil seed rape and the heather.