2024 - 4 Months of doing something different

This week’s something new. Today I’m attending to make a skep (traditional beehive). I’ve been watching YouTube tutorials and collecting materials over the last few days. Unfortunately I can’t get my hands on any thatchers straw , I can only get the bailed shorter stuff used for animal bedding. And I’m using brambles to tie it all together. That’s quite traditional. Trying to find long thin stems is proving tricky. I’m about a 3rd of the way through. It’s going to be a pointier than I’d liked, but it seems quite strong so far. Apparently you should be able to stand on it without it collapsing when it’s finished. Not sure I’m going to try that! If it doesn’t look too bad when it’s finished. It’ll be one of Bobs Christmas presents.

Finished it. Does it look anything like a skep? For someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing, I’m quite happy with it. The bees will have the final say (one day), as too if it’s any good or not. 
Hopefully Bob will like it.

It looks like a skep to me!! Its beautiful. You may get a wild colony taking up residence if you're lucky.