Beekeeping Questions & Answers
I want to start bee keeping, where do I start?
Attend a local “Beekeeping for Beginners Course” They are usually held in the spring. Then join your local Beekeeping Association, and they will put you in touch with an experienced beekeeper to get you going. If you intend to set up within 5 miles of Hatherton Honey, then we can help.
What do I need to start beekeeping?
Not as much as the catalogues tell you. All you need is a Smoker, Hive Tool and Protective Clothing. You can obtain a hive, bees and a feeder later. If you are local Hatherton Honey maybe able to help with the latter equipment and bees.
I would like a beehive in my garden, field, allotment to help with pollination. How do I go about it?
If you live within 10 miles of Hatherton Honey then please contact us and we can assess suitability of the proposed site. If you live further away, the please contact your local beekeeping association.
Learn MoreI am a new beekeeper, where do I find online help?
Dave Cushmans website for Beginners in an excellent resource.
Visit nowWhat bees are there in a colony?
The queen is normally the only bee who lays eggs, usually one per colony. Drones are male bees, and only present in the breeding season, are noisy and fly long distances to mate with queens. The rest of the colony is made up of the workers and are incomplete females who do most of the work and act as decision makers.
Are bees thriving or in decline?
In this country they are in decline, for a variety of reasons, loss of habitat, diseases, predators, infections and pesticides. We need more plants for bees, more colonies, better education about bees and their plight and more beekeepers.