Well-made beehive stands are the key to easy, comfortable beekeeping. I prefer not to stand beehives on milk crates, old pallets or piles of bricks. Old tyres are OK on the heather, but if you use them on the rape, you may find they have been occupied by a swarm.
Lifting, stretching, bending and twisting can all cause back problems. Respect your back.
I run all my hives with the frames the warm way, parallel to the hive entrance. I stand behind the hive, and I can work the hive without twisting.
Here are some of my hive stands.
Type 1
Basic hive stand, made on the bench. Two pressure-treated rails about 1700mm long, with three cross pieces and four cut-down fence posts hammered into the ground. Check with a spirit level. Top of rail to ground is about 450mm.
The corrugated iron keeps the grass down, shows any sudden increase in dead bees, and provides a home for mice and, if you are lucky, slow worms. Screw together with no. 12 x 3½ or 4 inch screws. The stands should last 15 years or more. There is space between the hives for a hive roof and supers while inspecting the brood box. The other hive serves as a stand for a smoker and hive records. Works a treat.
Type 2
This apiary is on an old concrete shed base, within reach of the heather. It was first used by Hywel Honey, Penmaenmawr, more than 70 years ago, and I am the fourth beekeeper to use it.
The hive stands are 225mm concrete blocks sitting on the concrete base, with a loose-fitting 4×2 frame holding two hives and maybe a nuc. Easy to set up.
Type 3
Making the best of a sloping site. Why not find a better site? This site is within reach of the heather on Tal y Fan, plus lime and sycamore, and can occasionally produce five supers of honey from the best hive.
I made the stand on site: knock in the two long front posts, set the front rail level, clamp and screw together. Then set the rear posts and fasten the cross pieces, and trim the four posts. Plenty of spirit level work, but quick to make.
Type 4
This long rail stand replaced a collection of old tables in an open-sided zinc barn. Two 8×3 pressure-treated rails, 4.8m long, are sitting on leftover 150mm concrete blocks. The front rail is clamped to the barn stanchions. The rails are levelled with pieces of wood and slate.
The bees fly up and over the slate roof. I use the small table to hold hive roof, supers and other equipment. The middle hive in the picture is a scale hive.
We’d love to see pictures of your hive stands.
Please email the Secretary at secretary@conwybeekeepers.org.uk.