Santa Baby...

If you know of a budding beekeeper and they have been extremely well-behaved this year (or just not too naughty) then perhaps you’ll consider buying them something bee-related for Christmas. You could also treat yourself instead of waiting for someone else to get the hints you have been dropping for the past few weeks….!

Here are some gift ideas:

A starter kit, consisting of a hive plus frames, a beesuit, gloves, a smoker, a hive tool, a brush and a queen clip. New beekeepers will welcome starter kits which contain all they will need (minus the bees) to set up an apiary, along with the protective clothing that is a must-have. There is a school of thought that advocates ‘bare-handed beekeeping’ but this is espoused by people who have dealt almost exclusively with stingless bees and who are lucky enough not to react badly to bee venom. We would always advocate that you protect yourselves as well as you can, which means wearing a veil and gloves as a minimum.

So, if a full starter kit is not within budget, then first on the list could be a pair of supple leather gloves with canvas sleeves. The other low-cost item in the beginner’s kit is a smoker and you can easily while away the winter learning how to light one, well ahead of acquiring a colony of bees. These items can all be bought online from the UK or France, or at beekeeping supply shops such as Naturapi in Limoges, 3MMM in Ruffec, or Materiel Apicole du Poitou near Chatellerault. The Gamm Vert stores also offer a limited basic range of beekeeping supplies.

Perhaps you’re not quite sure, just yet, whether beekeeping is for you? How about reading up on the subject? If you are already a beekeeper, a spot of revision may also come in handy. Books that we have found useful, and which are still referred to, include: The Collins Beekeeper’s Bible, and Haynes’ Bee Manual, both of which are easy and interesting reads.

At 13 Bees we run beekeeping courses throughout the spring and summer, as well as ‘taster sessions’ where you can spend an afternoon finding out about honeybees, trying some honey, and spending time at one of our hives. Gift vouchers (with the option to be personalised) are available on our website for these sessions, and can be bought last-minute for Christmas if required.

Over winter we also hold ‘wax workshops’ where attendees can learn how to make rolled candles from our own pure beeswax, along with tree decorations, wax food wraps, and tea-lights. All the details are available on our website, and gift vouchers for these sessions are also available.

We hope that all of your beekeeping adventures bring you joy, and we wish our readers all the very best for the coming festive season. All information about the courses and workshops on offer can be found on our website www.13bees.co.uk, or email us on info@13bees.co.uk or telephone us on 05 45 71 22 90.