This comes in all shapes, sizes and colours!  White and yellow are thought to be calming to the bees.

The pallet is used to raise the hive a little, protecting the beekeeper's back.  These are new pieces, but it's also possible to buy second hand, and sterilise them.

The club's auction, held in early May, is an excellent opportunity to find equipment at more reasonable prices as a new hive can be expensive.  There are useful items for sale, whatever stage of beekeeping you are at.  Second hand hive parts can be sterilised with a blow torch, ensuring no importation of disease or pests.

Receiving a swarm is one of several ways to set up your first colony.  This new beekeeper is VERY nervous! She didn't realise the colony is totally docile while the bees are in a swarm and have no hive to protect.  This can change once they are established of course, but experienced beekeepers often replace a queen that is producing aggressive workers.

This site provides much more space for working than the earlier one in picture 4.

Beekeepers are an inventive lot!  Here, an old picnic table which was about to be thrown out, is cut down and used as a double hive stand.

It's really important to raise the hive a little, as things can get very heavy once each super weighs 25lbs when full of honey.

The number of hives is gradually increasing.  This can happen very easily once you get the hang of things!

It's very handy to have a surface on which to work, in your apiary.  Prepared equipment can also be stored there.

This fence was constructed to give a little protection to the hives from the whistling prevailing wind.  A degree or two rise in temperature can have amazing knock-on effects in terms of yield, as the bees require less energy from honey in order to function. Hence, more for you!

These lucky bees don't have far to go to fill their tummies.

This sheltered site is by the River Itchen in a beautiful location.  The bees will do well here.

What better way to shelter your bees than in a walled garden?  Few of us have this beautiful situation, but the protected environment will result in slightly raised temperatures for the bees, hence an increase in yield.

This cosy site is ideal for several hives.  They can weigh very heavy, and here are getting very firm support.

This lovely sheltered woodland site belongs to the club, and is available to any member who wishes to site their hives somewhere on a temporary basis.