Most beekeepers choose to use only one design of hive, usually the one their local association recommends or the one they first saw on a beekeeping course. The aim of this workshop is to demonstrate the pros and cons of the three main types of hive: fixed comb, moveable comb and moveable frame hive and to provide an insight into their variants. A growing number of beekeepers are looking at hive variants to tailor their beekeeping better to the needs of their bees and to their own needs and preferences.

Using demonstration hives we will cover:

Skeps; National Hives; WBC hives; Commercial Hives: Dartington Hives (a horizontal 14×12); Flow Hives; Horizontal Top Bar Hives, Cathedral Hives, Warré Hives, mesh floors, poly hives and even the Apishield hornet trap.

During the workshop a team of Chelmsford Beekeepers will also build a complete ZEST (Zero Energy SusTainable) hive, which aims to gather more energy as nectar and pollen than was expended in making it. This is no small feat in the 40 minutes available as the hive is made from reclaimed building blocks, is 1.2 m long and holds frames that are as deep as 3 B.S. supers! Compared to other hives the ZEST hive is quick and cheap to build and has great thermal properties. We will also include nucleus hives and mini mating nucs, in a set up designed to produce mated queens, using a cup kit or grafting system.

This workshop is for anyone wanting to understand more about the hive choices facing beekeepers today and how to use them. This is all hands on, there will be no slides!