Beehives are now bereft of their honey supers. The supers are the parts of the beehive used to collect honey. In general, this year’s honey crop was very good and beekeepers on heather did well.

The ivy, which is the last nectar flow for the year, is currently yielding. Last year the ivy produced a wonderful crop. The honey solidifies rapidly and makes processing very difficult. The honey is quite strong but once one becomes accustomed to the taste, it is addictive.

Beekeepers will have had all hives fed and treated for varroa mites in early autumn. The absence of disease and the presence of a queen are perquisites of sending colonies into the winter.

Many beekeeping associations will be offering courses in beekeeping between now and next spring. There is great interest in the craft and people of all backgrounds sign up to learn. Some have an interest in learning about bees and the environment, while others will want to keep bees.

New beginners often become confused as to which type of hive to use in their beekeeping. As a general rule, the “national hive” is the most suited to beekeeping in Ireland. It is slightly smaller than the commercial hive and much easier to handle because of its design.

Some people choose to make their own hives. Plans are available for most types, and those who are handy will have a sense of achievement out of doing so. Red cedar is a very good wood which is very lightweight, easily cut and lasts for a long number of years. The wood requires no treatments or preservatives since its natural oil will protect it.

When making beehives, one will notice that there are spaces in many areas of the completed hive. These are called bee spaces and need to be accurate during manufacture. If the space is too small, the bee cannot get through. If too large, they will build brace comb in the gap. Following the plan may be difficult for some, so it might be worth buying the first hive and then copying it.

We now have polystyrene hives as alternatives to wood. They come in various designs but lack some of the features of a good wooden hive. I would say to anyone beginning beekeeping to use wooden hives until proficient in the craft.

Most associations try to organise bees for newcomers. Beginning beekeeping using nuclei is always recommended as bees are easier to handle in them. They may be transferred to full-sized hives at some point later, depending on the time of year.

It is recommended to work two hives so that comparison may be made with their activities. This aids learning and opens up scenarios of what is happening in one against the other.

I must caution about buying or accepting a gift of second hand equipment as it might prove to be the most expensive, should the equipment contain disease. CL