The Hexa-Hives are experimental hives that continue to be changed and adapted.
This page contains details on the Hexa-Hives.
Construction and operations of the hives, changes, alterations and best practices, in chronological order:
If you tweak a Hexa-Hive, or add changes that make the box a better place for bees or humans, please share this knowledge with christina(at)melliferopolis(dot)net!
2011:
The original Hexa-Hive, design by Kiran Ganghadaran:
2011_Hexahive_design_Kiran
2013:
First alterations to enlarge the hive, and lift it up from the ground. Now, the hive hosting the bees is on a pole, the boxes on the ground are for the comfort of human visitors.
The first Hexa-Hive Village is being built in Otaniemi :
2014:
A roof is added – made of copper, to protect the bees and the wood.
2015:
The hives are semi permanent in Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden. Honeysamples are taken for research.
Some ideas on the issues and possible solutions found in Hexa-Hive_constructiondetails.
The Hexa-Hive village is enhanced by the Airstrip for Bees, a flowering bed for pollinators. First installation in Kouvola Art Museum:
2016:
Several “invisible” alterations are added for the bees’ comfort – aeration and change of the flying hole towards the bottom board are the most important.
2017:
Internal changes: In order to make the work with the Hexa-Hive less destructive and to give the bees higher frames (the Hexa-Hive frames are very “short”), the box was changed on the inside. Some images:
2018: The Distributed Hexa-Hive Village:
In 2018, two Hexa-Hives were sent to other locations in Europe. One is currently in Bremen, one is in Bristol.
More information on the experiences in these places will be reported soon.
