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Numerous versions of the horizontal, deep frame hive exist, based on the principles of the famous French 19th century beekeeper Georges de Layens.

This horizontal hive is ideally suited to a more hands-off approach to beekeeping. The bees can be sustainably managed with minimal intervention to the brood nest and simultaneously provide a modest honey crop for personal use, depending on the conditions.

This latest version of the Layens Hive is constructed primarily from a mix of British and Western Red cedar. It has high insulation properties, aided by an internal lining of 15mm Wool Wood, solid frame runners and a Wool Wood crown board, helping the bees to maintain a stable, all year-round, brood nest temperature.

For this adapted version, this is where the similarities end. The hive has been designed using observations of how bees thrive in a tree hive. It has been divided into 2 spaces. The main nest space area is similar to the internal workings of a tree hive. There are no frames, just top bars (as in a Top Bar Hive) so that the bees can design their nest space as they see fit. This area of the hive is the heart of the colony and needs to remain undisturbed. The 2nd space has been designed along the lines of the inside of a TBH. This is where the bees will store excess honey when conditions are suitable.

The aim of this hive is to let the bees exist in a more natural setting and, when appropriate, provide small amounts of excess honey for our enjoyment. It is not designed for mass honey production but a sustainable way of working alongside the bees.