Skep making & straw weaving: Research in Chronological Order
05/05/19:
Hands: Of Bees & Bee Skeps - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99MBkslFhGU
Ireland: Wheat straw tied with briar. the straw must be whole, not cut up by a machine like a harvester. The straw and briar must be well dead so there’s no sap in them. In this film, they don’t use any tools to twist and tie the straw.
6:40 - 16:40
Making a Skep, a traditional straw beehive - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBCub2_bKVI
Traditional craft fair: Here they use a tool called a “girth” made from a hollow and truncated animal horn to twist the straw and hold it tight as they tie it.
Skep Beekeeping in the Heathland - 1978 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn5OxMXCSz8
Compilation of skep beekeeping videos:
Rye straw and reeds used Skeps can last 100 years of use.
Skep repair: 19:39- 23:50 Rotten or broken bands are cut away and replaced and re-tied. Straw can be re-inserted in areas where it is broken before being re-tied.
Skep Making - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwLTl0i83tM&pbjreload=10
Willow shoots are used for binding. Rye straw for filling. Straw of uniform length is important, the longer the better. The willow shoots are split equally along their length. the ends of these sections is sharpened to make it easier to fit through the straw without catching on it. A metal tool can be used to make a pilot hole for the willow to fit through. By pulling the willow binding strips over a rounded profile like a round table leg or a broomstick, the fibres are broken up inside and the willow becomes more supple and less prone to cracking. The straw is tied every 2 CM approx.
Coiling, twisting and tying process: 7:29 - 14:03
The Skep is coiled from the top down in an enlarging spiral. Each coil is tied to those above and below in an alternating pattern with the willow.