Beekeeping
Beekeeping on the Llŷn Peninsula & Eifionydd is about more than keeping hives — it’s about protecting and strengthening our locally adapted Welsh Black Bees. On this page you’ll find practical resources, from simple methods for making increases to guidance on sustainable, treatment-free practices, all designed to help you support healthy, resilient colonies and safeguard our native bees for the future.
Making increases
& replacing lost colonies
Expanding your apiary or replacing lost colonies doesn’t need to be daunting. At LLEBKA we offer support, demonstrations, and hands-on experience at our association apiary in Chwilog, helping you learn simple, practical methods to make increases. You’ll also find step-by-step guidance here on our website — just follow the “Read More” link.
By raising your own bees, you not only strengthen your beekeeping skills but also help protect the locally adapted, Varroa-resistant Welsh Black Bee. Making increases ensures healthy, resilient colonies while safeguarding the future of our native bees against the risks of imports.
Bait Hives
Welcoming Passing Swarms
Bait hives offer a simple, low-intervention way to encourage passing swarms to settle naturally in a suitable home. Rather than chasing or disturbing a swarm, a well-placed bait hive allows bees to choose a secure location that meets their needs, often with little or no intervention from the beekeeper.
Used thoughtfully, bait hives can help support locally adapted bees by providing safe nesting spaces for swarms already moving through the landscape. They are especially valuable in areas like the Llŷn Peninsula, where wild swarms contribute to healthy, resilient bee populations.
Follow the link to learn more about how bait hives work, where to place them, and how they can support both beekeeping and conservation.