Bees traditionally were kept in a variety of houses. The quintessential beehive shaped ones were known as 'skeps'.
They were a very inefficient way of looking after honey bees, as one had to destroy the skep and scatter the colony to get the honey out.
They can be made from rope, or more traditionally, straw. I am going to have a go at making some for around Willowbrook, and also to sell in our park store.
They were kept in small holes in a walled garden. The holes or alcoves were known as boles (see below)
The modern moveable beehive was only invented in 1851.
Hopefully tour hives will atract a lot of honey bees, which are in decline in New Zealand thanks to the Varroa mite.
