- ONBG (OxNatBees) is an informal mutual support network for beginners and experienced beeks who aspire to practise bee-centric, low intervention, and chemical-free beekeeping in Oxfordshire. To join the group and share ideas, questions, information and experiences, please use this site's Contact Us form.
Next ONBG Meeting
Sunday 19th July 3-5PM, Oxford
Twitter: @OxNatBees
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Recent Blog Posts
- ONBG meeting, 1st August 2021 – out-apiaries and TBHs August 7, 2021
- ONBG meeting, July 2021 – Blenheim wild bees July 23, 2021
- Bees at the fete July 11, 2021
- ONBG meeting June 2021 – another Bee Tea at Dee! June 12, 2021
- Drayton beehive on display May 12, 2021
- Lockdown winter projects February 27, 2021
- Book review: Treatment Free Beekeeping, by David Heaf February 9, 2021
- Horizontal hive types January 17, 2021
- Bees Without Borders: conference report November 23, 2020
- Winter is coming November 7, 2020
- Winter survival surveys show ‘treatment-free’ works August 5, 2020
- ONBG meeting, July 2020: a Bee Tea at Dee Cottage July 20, 2020
- Book Review – Interviews with Beekeepers by Steve Donohoe July 1, 2020
- Look up during lockdown May 1, 2020
- Preparing for swarm season April 4, 2020
- Covid-19: evolution in action March 31, 2020
- A new hive design: the Drayton hive February 27, 2020
- Victorian Twitterstorms February 4, 2020
- Top Bar Hives, warts and all January 4, 2020
- ONBG meeting, October 2019: Hive envy! November 9, 2019
Tag Archives: TBH
ONBG meeting, 1st August 2021 – out-apiaries and TBHs
20 of us picnicked at an out-apiary in rural Oxfordshire, to network, observe horizontal Top Bar Hive inspections and discuss the practicalities of out-apiaries. This out-apiary is sited in a corner of a small estate, whose owners are very committed … Continue reading
Posted in Apiary visits, Inspections, Meetings, ONBG, TBH
Tagged Inspections, Mycelium, Out-apiary, TBH
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ONBG meeting June 2021 – another Bee Tea at Dee!
Once Covid lockdown rules were relaxed to allow up to 30 people to gather outdoors, it took Jane 6 microseconds to arrange a garden meeting at her amazing “country cottage in the middle of Oxford”. 13 of us gathered to … Continue reading
Top Bar Hives, warts and all
This article first appeared in BBKA News, January 2020. Background Over the 9 years I’ve been using horizontal TBHs (HTBHs), I’ve seen many experiments in design and use. This article is intended to help those considering one find their way … Continue reading
Posted in Experimentation, TBH
Tagged BBKA News, HTBH, Inspections, Low intervention, Non invasive, TBH, Torben Fischer, Warts and all
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ONBG meeting, July 2019 – what makes a good hive?
19 of us converged on the beautiful village of Long Crendon to discuss and admire a variety of hives built by Eric. This led to a wide ranging discussion of a plethora of hive types and their tradeoffs. Background – … Continue reading
Posted in Apiary visits, Hives, Meetings, ONBG, TBH, Warré
Tagged Chimney, copper, forage, Hemp, rewilding, TBH, Torben Schiffer, Warré
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ONBG meeting, 15th June 2019 – TBHs, Freedom hives and a surprise swarm
Fifteen of us met in a beautiful cottage hidden near the middle of Oxford. The plan was to have lunch, inspect Top Bar Hives and see a nearby Freedom Hive, and we managed to meet these targets due to skillful … Continue reading
ONBG meeting, 6th April 2019 – TBHs
15 of us converged at Zuzana’s to see her Top Bar Hive, and particularly how to move bars around an occupied hive to make room for the nest to expand. This is necessary in large, established colonies in this type … Continue reading
Training new beeks
In early February, we held a couple of afternoon training sessions for new beekeepers, to give them an outline of what’s involved in keeping bees in the UK. We started with basic biology, and how this drives their very alien … Continue reading
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