Up Above the Ground... Bees on Stilts

LandofSpike and BKJ1 have built a stand for the Beebox.

It needed one.

Because Beeboxes like to be raised above the ground.

There are several reasons for this:

a) Working at a Manageable Height

If the hive is positioned too low or too high it's going to be a difficult job hefting honey-laden supers and brood boxes.
Even day-to-day inspections are more arduous if the box is positioned incorrectly.

Ouch to beekeeper back problems.

b) Fresh air

Keeping the hive away from the ground helps to minimise problems with the damp and helps with the ventilation of the hive.

c) Creature Incursion

An elevated hive helps keep crawling insects, especially ants, at bay.

Setting the legs in a margarine tub of cooking oil is a good idea. The sea of oil is a good insect barrier.

CONSTRUCTION

Making the hive stand was a simple enough job.

LandofSpike made it 30" long x 20" wide.

He used 4" x 2" lumber to construct the hive stand and fixed it together with 5mm x 75mm screws.

LandofSpike's Secret Blueprints

The platform was designed so the base of the hive would be at 14" above the ground.

The back legs continued above the deck level to form an end stop for the rear of the hive.

At the front a landing board for the bees was fashioned from an offcut of 15mm planking and it was held in place by some strategically positioned supports.

Without landing board

And with landing board

Once completed the stand was given a couple of coats of garden wood preserver. 

The landing board was painted with the more bee-friendly Dulux Weathershield. 

A landing board isn't really necessary but it's nice to watch the bees crawling around on it rather than just darting efficiently into their front door.

Apparently they like a highly visible landing area so it was painted a highly visible Classic Cream colour.

Weatherproofed stand with hive and landing board

LandofSpike now has to do a little more work on the western borders of Spike Acres before it is fully transformed into the new BeesofSpike Apiary. It just needs a bit more screening along its eastern edge, some more grass and a bit of weatherproofing.

Then all we need is some Livestock.