Should you become a beekeeper?

 

The rewards of beekeeping are many – pleasure and interest, and your own honey being the main ones – and you will also have the satisfaction of knowing that you are boosting the population of an important pollinator which has recently been in some decline. But becoming a beekeeper also demands a certain amount of commitment, effort and cost, and before you take the step of acquiring your own bees, it’s worth considering what’s involved. Here are a few things you should think about:

 

 

 

·        Cost. When you begin keeping bees there can be a considerable outlay on basic equipment. Hives, protective clothing and other necessary gear, not to mention the bees themselves, do not come cheap. You could easily spend £500 just to set yourself up with a single colony. You may eventually cover your costs by selling honey, but that will take a few years.

 

·        Time. A considerable commitment of time is needed. Between May and September you need to examine your bees regularly, generally once a week, to ensure that they are in good health and that they are not preparing to swarm. Cleaning equipment, extracting and bottling honey, and various other jobs around the apiary, are also quite time-consuming.

 

·        Expertise. It takes a few seasons of practical experience and study to become a competent beekeeper. Don’t expect to be an expert straightaway, and be prepared for occasional setbacks.

 

·        Storage space. Beekeeping equipment, like colonies of bees, has a way of multiplying itself over time, and it all needs to be stored somewhere, preferably under cover. Do you have sufficient storage space?

 

·        Bee stings. Every year a few people die as a result of an allergic reaction to bee stings. Do you know how you would react? If not, before you take up beekeeping, it’s worth getting stung in order to find out. And this applies not only to you but to members of your family who might also be in danger of the occasional sting.

 

·        Apiary site. Do you have a suitable site for an apiary? If you are thinking of using your own garden, you should check that your neighbours won’t object, and that passers-by won’t be in danger.