I make skeps to order from either wheat straw or a native Irish grass known as Purple Moor Grass or Molinia caerulea. Click here for more on Purple Moor Grass.
All skeps are bound with rattan lapping cane.
Four Bee Skeps, small domed grass, small domed oaten straw, two swarm skeps
Traditional domed skep. purple moor grass with split blackberry binding
Purple moor grass swarm skep
Miniature (5.5″x5.5″) grass and rattan skep suitable for casts or shop window displays
Skeps take between 8 and 12 hours to make depending on size. Swarm skeps are traditionally 13-14″ in diameter and 10-11″ deep. This little one above was a special for a window display but you could pick up a cast in it too.
As for prices, well here comes the bad news. These skeps are hand made (by me) here in Ireland. There is my time to consider and there are costs for materials but they are well made and should last a life-time. So, for a full size swarm skep 14″ x 11″, which takes about 12 hours to make, I charge €85. Smaller skeps cost less – between €60 and €75. Postage is €12.
Alternatively, if you search Google for seagrass laundry baskets or go and look in your local homeware shops there are some rather nice alternatives to be had. They tend to be bound with plastic but the seagrass is nice and they are certainly cheaper.
Or check out beekeeping suppliers such as Donegal bees or Ben Harden who both have cheaper alternatives.
Or click here for instructions how to make your own
This is my sun hive which is currently home to a very large colony of native Irish bees:
Click here for more about the sun hive including how to make one.
Sun Hive
Prices vary depending on size and postage. For further info or to order a skep click here.
For Skep History article click here. Or for instructions how make your own skep here.