Beekeeping

Introduction to beekeeping

Beekeepers manage colonies of honey bees (Apis Melliflera) to produce honey and other products, such as beeswax. Because the hives need relatively little space, keeping bees does not require you to own or rent land and can be done in a variety of environments, from urban rooftops to heather moorlands. It can also be combined with other types of farming, such as market gardening, with bee pollination boosting the yield of certain crops. 

Keeping bees is a form of livestock management and comes with legal responsibilities on caring for their welfare throughout the year. Managing colony health is a critical part of honey production and to sell honey, you will also need to comply with food safety regulations.  

Before setting up your hives, you should learn how to manage bees and get hands-on experience in beekeeping. As a starting point, you can look at the Scottish Beekeepers’ Association’s list of beginners’ training courses or find a local beekeeper to speak to through your local association.