Innovation Hives owner Peter Dodds with one of his hives which was awarded second place in the Southern Rural Life Innovation Awards at the Southern Field Days recently. Exploring the options, Mr Dodds decided to hand-make his hives out of sheet metal, which provided a stable environment year round for bees. Known as ''Innovation Hives,'' they are made of sheet metal, with a wool blend insulation, he said. The sheet metal hives provided a high-quality alternative, which was comparable in size to the standard wooden hives, allowing for mix and match, Mr Dodds said. The Innovation Hives helped ensure long-term survival of hives and were strong and sturdy.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 27, 2018 16:07 UTC