[Flowerpower136]

Asking on behalf of my sister.

She can't keep hens (prohibited in the deeds), so is thinking of bees.. . . .  dont ask, the only similarity I can see is that they are both ginger and have wings .

Basically, apart from watching and enjoying them in the garden, we haven't a clue.  Can anyone advise where to find info, any good books for starters, any specialist sites, etc?

All and any advice welcome.

[madcat]

http://www.britishbee.org.uk/  is the best place to start ...  And then her local county beekeepers association.  She get get the general stuff, find out about a local keeper, courses etc etc.

[Flowerpower136]

Thanks Madcat, that's really helpful.

[jimbeekeeper]

Best place and forum is

www.beekeepingforum.co.uk

[Kate and her Ducks]

Get her to contact her local bee keeping association. They are absolutely invaluable. The run courses and classes, can provide equipment and are a great source of info and support when getting started or if you have problems (more And more common with all the threats that bees face).

[Flowerpower136]

Thanks, I'm passing it all on, brilliant help.

[scabs]

Also, and I may be wrong here but it's what I was told by someone just yesterday, you have to be a member of the Association to be insured.

I'm sure the beekeepers on here will correct me if that's wrong.

The more I read about beekeeping, the more appealing (if maddening) it seems.

Best of luck. 

[jimbeekeeper]

Also, and I may be wrong here but it's what I was told by someone just yesterday, you have to be a member of the Association to be insured.

Not necessarily, but a bit long winded if you try on your own. To be honest the "insurance" is not really worth the paper it is written on!

There is a bit of a new movement going on, mainly focused around the BBKA and their sponsorship from mainly BAYER, to get "bee friendly" put on some of their chemicals, in exchange for about £10,000 per year to the BBKA.

A very long story and on going debate about the morality of it...long story short, an alternative to the BBKA is being muted, off which would include insurance.

But in conclusion

A lot of keepers do not have it and it, and it is not a legal requirement.

[scabs]

Thanks Jim. 

Am I to take it from your comments that if you lost your brood over winter say, you're pretty much stuffed?

Sorry to hijack the thread, Flower. 

[jimbeekeeper]

Am I to take it from your comments that if you lost your brood over winter say, you're pretty much stuffed?

Sorry to hijack the thread, Flower. 

Are you referring to claiming back off insurance? If so the insurance (for what it is worth) is not for that! 

It is if your bees are found (either by you or a bee inspector) to have a notifible disease, either European foul brood or American Foul brood, both can lead to the inspector burning as a minimum the bees! the frames etc. They might suggest burning the hive (if wooden) or chemically treating it i.e if you have an Omlet hive.

If the above is the case you get a few £ back for loss of frames etc, but not for loss of bees.

As I said not worth the paper it is written on

[Flowerpower136]

The more the merrier Scabs.

Insurance

Now I've read the thread I understand, intiailly was thinking it was 3rd party liability for neighbour's bee strings.

Sister is still thinking about it.  She's a bit worried about reaction from neighbours, but still keen on the idea.  Me thinks it won't do any harm to ponder a bit.

Thanks everyone.

[jimbeekeeper]

Insurance

Now I've read the thread I understand, intiailly was thinking it was 3rd party liability for neighbour's bee strings.

Yes it does cover 3rd party / public liablity.

Rather than me rambling on to much! Have a read of this link all about the linsurance.

FYI I am a member of my local assocation, and as part of that it includes the insurance.

http://www.britishbee.org.uk/insurance_cover.php

[lmpd]

my wife has just enrolled on a bee keeping course
i'll get her to put some info up soon

[Yorkie]

I *think* membership of the BBKA & attendance on one of their courses is a pre-requisite before permission is granted for beekeeping on our council sites.

I was stung immediately under the eye by a bee on the site; they hadn't been properly smoked before being opened up (or something similar).  Three mm higher and would have been really nasty.

[Flowerpower136]

Me again, on behalf of Sister.  Why doesn't she join the forum!!

Anyway, she's been doing some reasearch, and has read that you have to clip the wings of the queen in order to prevent swarms?

Noooooo    Is that true, or has she got the poultry pages afterall?  I don't clip the chooks wings, and they swarm everytime I open the gate.

Seriously.  Is that true?  It's put her right off the idea.  Also she seems to be scared of being sued.  How likely is that?