Frequently Asked Questions

Placing an Order

Orders can be placed by post, phone, online or in person by visiting our shop. For full details please visit our Contact Us page.

Small items are delivered by Royal Mail, larger items are delivered by courier.

Small items are delivered by Royal Mail, larger items are delivered by courier.

About our Hives

All our wooden hives are made from the finest quality Western Red Cedar. Imperfections and knots are discarded, ensuring you receive a top quality product which will last for many years.

We don't skimp on the quality of the wood used in our hives. Only the premium cuts of wood are used. We cut from the centre of the sections, avoiding the sapwood that will rot easily and the tough wood at the centre which is prone to cuts, splits and knots.

Unlike other bee hives on the market, our timber is seasoned – this means cut and dried for many months, sometimes years, before we use it to build your hive. This ensures a much finer finish, and there will be less chance of wood shrinkage, splitting and twisting. Our comb joints will always fit snugly, with no need to use unsightly nails. (Properly dried wood also allows ease of assembly when purchasing flat pack goods.) Thats why we offer you a10 year guarentee.

Our craftsmen use Cascamite (powder resin wood glue, stronger than the wood itself) to seal all joints, and sand them all for a perfect smooth finish. No gaps in the joints means better insulation for the bees and sealed entry points for predators. Our fully assembled products give you reassurance and peace of mind, while our flat-pack product will fit together perfectly.

We always use quality galvanised metal for our varroa floors, trays and runners. This not only makes our parts longer lasting and hard wearing, it also means that they can be blow-torched clean when sterilising your hive.

All our hive parts, including our cover boards are expertly finished, ensuring you a top-quality product throughout. The craftsmanship used in the joinery ensures water is kept out, essential for a healthy hive.

Your hive does not need painting however if you wish to do so then please wait for about 3 years to allow the hive to weather. Only when the wood has silvered can it be painted and then, only externally.

Yes, poly hives should be painted to protect them. We offer a range of water-based paints for protecting and providing durability. View our poly hive paints.

About our Clothing

Sizing charts are shown as part of the product page information for our range of clothing and gloves.

If you follow our sizing guideline then the item should fit however if not then please return it to us within 14 days, unworn and in the original packaging. We will then either replace with an alternative size or refund, whichever you prefer.

Unless it states otherwise, the clothing is made from hard wearing poly cotton.

Bees do not like dark colours and so most of our clothing is available in either white or beige.

Can’t find an answer to your question?

You can either contact us using the online form or call us and we'll be happy to help.