i looked around and saw hives from pine or cedar. now i know cedar is going to last lots of years but is there a view on the pine ones ? they are a lot cheaper but i guess thats for a reason ... any ideas where i can get reasonably priced hives ? i want to try this for a season but not sure if i wiill like it ... i have already done my course but we can only open hives once the weatehr gets better
They're heavier and don't last so long, but they're cheaper. You should either get any future hives second-hand or from Thorne's New Year sale, but it's too late for that this year, unless you strike lucky.
Contact your local beekeeping association you may find somebody with a second hand hive - they may, like my association run all summer long open sessions where you can go along and work the hives under supervision - this is a much better and far less expensive way of determining if you're cut out for it. Standing in a mass of 1000-10000 flying bees even if they're not stinging is quite daunting, as is handling the frames initially. Like everything you get used to it after a while, and that includes being stung - well almost.
If you're only thinking of trying this for a year to see if you like it then a well made pine hive (Fragile Planet www.fragile-planet.co.uk (http://www.fragile-planet.co.uk)) will be more than sufficient. I'd advise running a National Hive as these are most common in this country and therefore much easier to pass on or obtain.
thanks - i think i will buy a cedar one and hopefully get some bees