Does your favourite beekeeper deserve a treat? Are you wondering how to ace buying them a present? Conveniently, there is a list of gift ideas right here:
E-voucher
If you want to keep it simple and let them decide for themself what they need, choose a gift card. Some shops beloved by beekeepers that offer e-vouchers are EH Thorne, Abelo, Simon the Beekeeper and National Bee Supplies. They stock a lot of necessities so there’s no way those funds will go to waste.
Beeswax moulds
Is the beekeeper you know the creative type? If so, perhaps they’d enjoy crafting from beeswax. Consider buying them a candle mould or lip balm tubes. If you think they’d enjoy something more unusual, how about a mould for making their own crayons?
Fondant
Fondant is a perfect gift at this time of year. Beekeepers use fondant to top up the food reserves of their colonies during the cold months. Hive Alive and ApiCandy are good choices because they contain additional vitamins and protein to keep bees healthy and strong, but you may find other credible sellers of bee-friendly fondant. However, avoid supermarket fondant because it is not kind to bee tummies!
Beekeeping journal
Give the gift of organisation! A journal would be a handy place to keep important records like inspection results and the treatments used against the parasitic Varroa destructor. There are journals designed especially for beekeepers that include relevant information about all manner of bee-related matters like swarming and the lifecycle of honey bees. A journal may be just what your favourite beekeeper needs to make a positive start to 2025.
Knowledge
Beekeepers are enthusiasts. They work with bees because they have a passion for it. Allowing them to learn yet more about their obsession will undoubtedly make your gift a hit. Research the most revered texts on bees and beekeeping and find out whether there is a gap in your friend’s personal collection. If they’d prefer something more hands-on, you can buy replicas of hives that allow the study of various aspects of a bee’s life and home. For visual media, look into educational DVDs and posters.
Engraved hive tool
Where would a beekeeper be without their hive tool? This nifty item proves helpful in almost every task, from lifting frames to cleaning. As such an essential part of beekeeping, why not make it special for your beekeeper friend by getting theirs engraved? You could borrow their current tool during this quiet season to get it engraved, or surprise them with a brand new one engraved with their name. Bear in mind, there are multiple types of hive tool, with the main ones being ‘the standard hive tool’ and ‘the J hive tool’. So, if you want to buy a new one, it could be worthwhile finding out which is your friend’s preference. However, some beekeepers like to have an assortment for different occasions or as spares if they’re prone to misplacing things. An engraved hive tool would be a meaningful gift that is sure to be treasured for many years to come.
Donation
If you don’t personally know a beekeeper but would like to support the trade, Oxfam is selling a charity gift card for ‘backing beekeepers’. Check out the ‘Help the Bees‘ section of this website for a list of other excellent charities to support.
