FRAGILE PLANET BEEKEEPING SUPPLIES

Scientists and beekeepers alike continue to speculate over the causes of the alarming decline in bee populations in recent years, some blaming pesticides, others global warming, some even suggesting that the reasons might stem from mobile phone signals.

While research to identify the causes continues (evidence remains inconclusive, the use of certain pesticides, increasing air pollution, a rise in lethal parasites and general mismanagement of the countryside appearing to be the principle causes), keeping bees has received a lot of much-needed press coverage.
The focus of the coverage has centred on the long-term effects of a declining bee population. One fact in particular stresses the value of these little creatures to the human race as a whole: of the 100 crop species that provide 90% of the world’s food, over 70 are pollinated by bees. This alarming reality has struck a chord with the British public, and swarms of people are taking to keeping bees in order to do their part to save them from extinction.

There have been no boundaries in terms of the trend’s reach, either. Hives in suburban gardens and allotments are as common a sight as hives on rooftop gardens and small yards in urban metropolises. There can be no doubting the buzz that now surrounds beekeeping: in 2010, British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) membership reached 20,000, a massive rise from a lowly 8,500 members in 2000.

Engaging Children is Key to Protecting Bees in the Future

There have been initiatives that do their part to address the problems in the short-term – support from big businesses (Sainsbury’s and Magners Cider, for example) exists and is good for awareness, but there’s no saying how long this will last. Likewise, schemes such as the introduction of queen bees from areas that have relatively healthy bee numbers (such as the Isle of Man) to more deprived regions should help to sustain numbers for the time being.

However for the long-term health of our bee populations, awareness of the importance of these insects needs to be ingrained in our nation’s psyche, which is why we’re encouraged to see increasing numbers of schools and youth groups turning youngsters on to keeping bees. Some invite local beekeepers to give talks and drive awareness campaigns, but others are taking the plunge and installing on-site hives and investing in beekeeping equipment that should help produce the next generation of beekeepers.

The essential bee supplies required to set up a colony include a hive, a nucleus of bees, protective clothing, sugar syrup, medication and hive tools; though initial investment is required, a colony requires good management more than it does money to maintain into the future, something that children can play an active part in. Once up and running, a host of specialist information and support is available, the BBKA having developed a specialist schools pack for Key Stages 1 and 2.

Though there is some way to go, it is clear that increasing numbers of people from all corners of society are turning to beekeeping as a pastime and passion. It all adds up to a more positive outlook for the future of the bee – long may it continue!

A major gripe of many of the UK’s older population is that today’s kids are wrapped in cotton wool. It’s not our place to judge the parenting styles of others, but one thing we can do is help parents teach their children about nature, specifically in terms of the glorious Great British bumble bee population.

Health Benefits
Did you know honey has been associated with healing for thousands of years? It’s packed with vitamins and minerals, works as a gentle natural laxative, can provide energy without the surge of insulin that comes with white sugar, can minimise the effects of allergies and hayfever, and even help insomniacs to finally drop off!

Hands-on Learning
Beekeeping can be a superb hands-on way for kids to learn about nature – lifecycles, respect, safety and preservation. Have you visited our Beginners webpage? We run beekeeping beginner courses to give adults and children the skill and information required to begin their beekeeping adventures. Beekeeping can be dangerous when badly practiced, so always get involved with your kids as a family activity.

Junior Beekeeping Equipment
We have bee suits and beginner bee equipment for all sizes, so take a look at our Price List to stock up on everything you and your budding bee keepers will need. Need a little advice? Get in touch by email or phone and we’ll help you plan exactly what you need down to the very last bee!

Teaching children to respect and love the Great Outdoors is about fun, clear information, leading by example and loving bees!

The UK bumble bee population is in a pretty critical state. According to the Bumble Bee Conservation Trust, we’ve already lost two of the native twenty-six bee species over the last seventy years, with a further six on the “highly endangered” list (i.e. extinction is imminent without our interception) So, what’s killing our bees?

Loss of Habitat
Landscape management and farming are tough. Farming, building and aggressive landscaping have cleared a HUGE percentage of the UK’s natural wildflower habitats. The no.1 problem for bees is loss of habitat. Bees love meadows, which is why it’s important to create little islands of meadow habitat in your garden to encourage happy, healthy bee populations to flourish.

Pesticides
Non-organic farmers are essentially backed into a corner whereby they MUST produce more product or face financial crisis. They use pesticides to guarantee their crops, but this has the unfortunate effect of eliminating both friendly and troublesome insects from farmland and surrounding areas. A similar statement can be made about urban areas, where gardeners spray pesticide to keep their blooms fresh and insect nasties out of the garden.

We can offer friendly help and advice to folks interested in keeping bees on varying scales. Our bee equipment materials are ethically sourced and designed to fit snug into your garden without disturbance or causing too much fuss. After all, we believe beekeeping shouldn’t be all about bee suits and smokers, but about the joy of helping one of the UK’s best little creatures to flourish.

This is a blog entry that needn’t just apply to eager beekeepers. Aside from the right beekeeping equipment and a Winnie-the-Pooh devotion to honey, a little gardening knowledge can go a long way to keeping bees and promoting a healthy garden.
Planting for the Life of Bees
You need to provide the right plants to support the bee population throughout their annual lifecycle – March to September. If you’re not quite at the bee suits and smokers stage of bee interest yet, have a go at encouraging the current bee population in your area by ensuring AT LEAST two complimentary flowering plants are on offer throughout the whole lifecycle of the bee. This will give enough food for adult bees (nectar) and youngsters (pollen)

What to Plant
Bees don’t like overly elaborate flowers. If the petals are too voluminous it just makes access quite hard for them. Bees are hard workers, but if your garden is full of difficult flowers it’s likely the bee population will pass you by. The best plants are natives specifically wildflowers like bramble, cornflower, snap dragons and foxgloves.

When they Flower
March to April – Bluebells, heather, pussy willow, rosemary and apple.
May to June – Campanula, laburnum, foxglove, geranium, single roses, wisteria, poppies, lupin and honeysuckle.
July to September – Brambles, cornflower, lavender, snap dragons, sunflower, lesser burdock, delphinium and hollyhock.

Both beekeepers and laymen should encourage the U.K bee population throughout the year by avoiding pesticides and encouraging native wildflowers.

Now the weather has finally started to warm up and the days are becoming longer, more and more people will be thinking about taking up beekeeping. So, for those eager to try their hand at one of the most rewarding pursuits around, what do you need to get yourself started?
Here at Fragile Planet, we have everything a budding beekeeper needs to enter the wonderful world of beekeeping. The first thing you’ll need is a hive. There are a huge number of sizes and styles you can choose from, so make sure you take the time to research which one will meet your requirements.
You will also need to buy a smoker to help subdue the bees and a pair of gloves to protect your hands. It is also highly recommended that you invest in a beekeeping smock to protect your face and the rest of your body when in close proximity to the bees. A hive tool is also an excellent idea, and there are also a wide range of other accessories and tools you can purchase to ensure your hive is a happy one.
Of course, then you need the bees themselves. We have a range of different nuclei and Queens available, so please be sure you know exactly what you want before ordering. If unsure, contact us for some friendly advice.
At Fragile Planet we have all of the beekeeping equipment and bee supplies you need, available individually if you just need a couple of items, or as a starter pack so you can fully kit yourself out and get started straight away.

Beekeeping is a fantastically nature-friendly hobby. Aside from the right beehives and beekeeping equipment, there are plenty of horticultural things you can get busy with in your garden to encourage your bees and other beneficial insects to flourish!
•    Plant lots of traditional garden plants like Lavender, Hollyhocks and Lupins. These and similar blooms are a ready source of pollen and nectar. We’re in the winter months now, so some of the best plants to have around are Heather, Gorse, Pansy and Yarrow. In time for the spring you should be preparing to plant Primrose, Bluebell, Pansy, Forget-Me-Not and plants from the Sallow genus.
•    Avoid planting cultivated bedding plants. These are often comprised of double-headed flowers that make it tough for bees and insects to access. Lots of extensively bred flowers often don’t produce nectar.
•    Bees love the sun! Try to gather your bee and insect-friendly plants in sunny spots of the garden.
•    Creating an annual planting schedule can help a great deal.
•    We’re big fans of spreading the beekeeping word, so have a chat with any friendly neighbours to see if they’re willing to incorporate a little bee-friendly planting into their gardens too!
All the bee equipment in the world is no use if you’re not a dedicated beekeeper at heart. Establishing beekeeping routines that fit with your daily, monthly and yearly habits is essential. We recommend sitting down with a nice cuppa and an inspiring organic gardening book!

Beekeeping can be a fantastically rewarding hobby. We promote responsible behaviour and sensitive practicality in terms of things like where you keep your beehives, how you handle beekeeping equipment etc. Some of our clients are just starting out in the thrilling field of beekeeping – sourcing their very first bee supplies from us! – and have asked us to clarify a few legal issues, namely, what laws exist to protect beekeepers, bees and those nearby?

Protecting Humans
In terms of neighbourly conduct, most legislation simply urges beekeeping enthusiasts to behave responsibly, e.g. siting beehives away from neighbouring thoroughfares etc. Most legislation is weakly worded and tends to be lumped on to other laws. For example, if your bees swarm over someone else’s property, recovering them without permission is trespass.  The trespass law also covers any damage you may cause to another’s property when attempting to recover the swarm. The outlook of many life-long beekeepers is not to look for laws granting permission, but rather making sure there are no legal barriers in place. If your swarm or hobby is dangerous or a hazard to other people, your local council will likely follow a legal route based on existing trespass, nuisance etc. legislation.

Protecting Bees
Most bee protection laws cover management of diseases. The Bee Disease and Pests Control Order 2006 compels beekeepers to keep comprehensive records of bee population and health, report any suspected cases of American Foul Brood, European Foul Brood or Varroa to the NBU, follow NBU instructions concerning serious health issues, and notify the NBU of any imports/exports.

Keeping bees can be a wonderful hobby and many people engage in such activities for the sheer pleasure of it, rather than because they want to get anything else out of their endeavours.

However, if you are getting into beekeeping you might be particularly keen to make the most of the honey you can collect. Whether you opt to consumer the sweet, golden liquid yourself or sell it to make cash, this can be an exciting prospect.

Of course, to stand a chance of reaching this stage, it is important that you invest in the right beekeeping equipment and do your research concerning how best to look after your hives.

Thankfully, it has never been easier to get your hands on fantastic products that help you achieve precisely this. For example, you can order bee supplies over the web using our website here at Fragile Planet. We offer great value for money, superb quality and fast delivery, making us a perfect one-stop-shop for provisions of this nature.

The reason why bees make honey is to feed themselves over winter. Rather than hibernating during the colder months like many other creatures, they stay active and clusters stay together for added warmth.

This means that during the summer, when food is abundant, it is necessary for bees to generate surplus supplies to see them through the harsher times.

You might be wondering how much honey you can expect from your bees. A typical hive can produce around 25lbs or more per season. However, it is possible for a hive to generate in excess of 60lbs in a particularly good year.

Beekeeping can be a fantastic pastime. It is relaxing and enables you to get in touch with the natural world around you. Also, it provides the perfect excuse for you to spend time outdoors, taking in the fresh air. Meanwhile, such activities can also benefit the environment. Many plants rely on bees to exchange pollen and over recent years, the number of wild bees around has been declining.

As with any hobby, you no doubt want to achieve maximum enjoyment from your endeavours. With this in mind, you may want to keep the hassle associated with it to a minimum. One of the tricky aspects of keeping bees can be sourcing bee supplies.

If you are not careful, you may end up paying large sums of money to get the relevant equipment and struggling to find exactly what you need. This limits the pleasure you can get from the actual keeping itself.

However, the great news is, there is a quick, easy and cost-effective way to source all the provisions you need to take part in this fantastic activity and that is by coming here to us at Fragile Planet.

We sell everything from hive tools to special protective suits and the hives themselves.

Meanwhile, we try to despatch all products ordered by our customers on the first working day after the requests have been made.

It is our goal to be an inexpensive and convenient resource for beekeepers and many people are taking advantage of our beekeeping equipment.

Like many things in life, beekeeping deserves plenty of time and attention. So, if you are thinking about getting started in the discipline, it pays off to adopt a practical and considered approach.

As part of this, it is important to ensure you have all the relevant beekeeping equipment, including quality hives, protective suits and so on, before you advance your project.

Also, it is important to do your research so that you know exactly what to expect. You can only make an informed decision concerning whether or not this hobby is for you if you know about bee behaviour, what is involved in looking after them and so on.

Thankfully, there are many resources available these days to help you make an informed decision.

For example, as well as selling a fantastic range of bee equipment, here at the Fragile Planet website we also provide plenty of information and advice to help put you in the picture.

Meanwhile, it is also important to know about safety. After all, as wonderful as they are, bees can sting and if you do not know how to handle them and respond to their cues, you might get into trouble.

In general, bees will not sting unprovoked unless they have been trapped in hair or crushed. When close to your hives, it is important not to flap your arms around and move rapidly. And, if they are antagonised, simply walk away, preferably through undergrowth or trees if possible. If you do get stung, try to remove the sting to stop the release of more poison.