{"id":391,"date":"2017-11-24T21:59:34","date_gmt":"2017-11-24T21:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/?page_id=391"},"modified":"2026-02-13T14:12:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T14:12:24","slug":"skep-making","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/?page_id=391","title":{"rendered":"Skep Making"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style> \r\nh2, h3, h4 {color: green;} \r\n\r\n.bg {background: #FFFFFF;\r\n     background-image: url(\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Skep-bw6.png\");\r\n}\r\n\r\n.maxwidth {\r\n  max-width: 800px;\r\n  margin: auto;\r\n  padding: 20px;\r\n  background: white;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.image-container {display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: center; } \r\n\r\n.card { padding: 5px; display: inline-block; font-size: small; color: green; text-align: center;} \r\n\r\n.card > img {border-radius: 5px; }\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/style>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"414\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Skep-1a.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13354\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"bg\">\n<div class=\"maxwidth\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Skep-Making at the East Devon Bee Shed: Learning a Heritage Craft<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Skeps have been used in the UK for hundreds of years for housing colonies of honey bees. Constructing skeps would have been one of many rural crafts, but with the advent of moveable frame hives this has become something of a lost art. So Sue Stokes decided to organised a skep making course at The Bee Shed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f0e68c\">Sue writes:<br>In January 2026, on a rain-soaked Sunday, the \u2018Bee Shed\u2019 was a hive of activity as 15<br>enthusiastic beekeepers gathered for a couple of hands-on workshops to learn the traditional craft<br>of skep-making.<br><br>Guided by our tutor, Vanessa, we were introduced to the materials (thatching straw and lapping cane), and shown the techniques needed to construct our skeps. With straw twisting, coiling, and binding with lapping cane,<br>everyone made a start. There were plenty of friendly chats and support, and although some of us<br>faced some tricky moments, overall, we got off to a great start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!-- Images -->\r\n\r\n<div class=\"image-container\">\r\n\r\n<p class=\"card\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Skep1.jpg\" alt=\"First few stitches\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\">The first few stitches. Tricky<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p class=\"card\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Skep-8a.png\" alt=\"Base started nicely\" width=\"159\" height=\"200\">Base started nicely<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p class=\"card\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Skep-9a.png\" alt=\"Working up the sides\" width=\"211\" height=\"200\">Working up the sides<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p class=\"card\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Skep-10a.png\" alt=\"Nearly finished\" width=\"211\" height=\"200\">Nearly finished<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f0e68c\">We returned the following week, eager to build on what we\u2019d learned. With Vanessa\u2019s guidance and<br>support, along with encouragement from each other, we continued weaving, sharing tips and<br>advice along the way. By the end, some had finished their skeps, while others worked towards<br>completion, determined to get as far as possible before it was time to go.<br><br>The workshops were certainly more than just learning a new skill. They were also a chance to<br>spend some social time together. There was plenty of good humour, laughter, and new friendships<br>made, all enjoyed with tea and cake. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, making the sessions<br>very enjoyable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f0e68c\">Thank you to everyone who joined in and contributed to making these workshops such a success.<br>Sue Stokes<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finished skeps with proud owners<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!-- Images -->\r\n\r\n<div class=\"image-container\">\r\n\r\n<p class=\"card\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Skep-2a.png\" alt=\"Finished skep\" width=\"211\" height=\"200\"><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p class=\"card\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Skep-3a.png\" alt=\"Finished skep\" width=\"198\" height=\"200\"><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p class=\"card\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Skep-4a.png\" alt=\"Finished skep\" width=\"202\" height=\"200\"><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p class=\"card\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Skep-5a.png\" alt=\"Finished skep\" width=\"211\" height=\"200\"><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p class=\"card\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Skep-6a.png\" alt=\"Finished skep\" width=\"176\" height=\"200\"><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p class=\"card\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Skep-7a.png\" alt=\"Finished skep\" width=\"211\" height=\"200\"><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n<script>\nconst scrollToTop = () => {\n\nwindow.scroll({\n    top: 0, \n    left: 0, \n    behavior: 'smooth' \n});\n};\n<\/script>\n<input type=\"button\" value=\"Scroll to top\" onclick=\"scrollToTop()\">\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- End of class bg and class maxwidth -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Skep-Making at the East Devon Bee Shed: Learning a Heritage Craft Skeps have been used in the UK for hundreds of years for housing colonies of honey bees. Constructing skeps would have been one of many rural crafts, but with the advent of moveable frame hives this has become something of a lost art. So [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":46,"menu_order":6,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-full-width.php","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-391","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Skep Making - East Devon Beekeepers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Skeps have been used for hundreds of years for housing colonies of honey bees. Making skeps would have been one of many rural crafts. 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