This decorative Artisan Bee Skep is a fusion between the traditional European skeps and the skilled handmade style of artisans from Bangladesh. Making it a modern take on the traditional style bee skeps used for managing bees in the early days of beekeeping across much of Europe.
These Fairtrade, handmade, artisan bee skeps are tightly woven and their natural design ensures they're water-resistant and provide valuable insulation for wildlife. This style of skep was traditionally used for collecting honeybee swarms, now typically used for decorative purposes. It's always a good idea to plant wildflowers or other pollinating flowers close to the skep to attract bees and give them a valuable food source.
Each Artisan Bee Skep is handmade using natural hogla grass and recycled saris to the highest quality finish and is totally plastic-free.
(Hogla is a type of grass that abundantly grows in Bangladesh and is used as a material for baskets, cushions and placemats. Hogla grass regularly causes problems near the shores as it can overgrow whole harbors, rivers and ponds. This material is considered a weed and the local villagers remove it.)
The individual artisans choose the colourful recycled sari pattern around the entrance, making every nester unique.
Purchasing our Fairtrade products helps both wildlife and people. In addition to giving your garden wildlife a home, you'll be supporting the artisan workers in Southern Bangladesh who make them—funding the survival of many women and their families in rural communities living in poverty.
Siting
If sited outside, the skep should be placed in a sheltered spot and preferably raised from the soft ground. The skep can be anchored with tent pegs for extra support. It can be helpful to brace the inside of the skep with twigs and sticks to give the bees a starting structure and material to build their nest around.
