Janet Lowore, Monica Barlow and Mark Loveday, Bees for Development
Top-bar hives are easier and cheaper to make than frame hives, yet have some advantages of movable comb technology. Compared to fixed comb hives they allow the beekeeper to remove and replace comb after inspection. Importantly they allow bees to make their own comb, and no queen excluder is used. The bees are able to live a natural life and it is believed that this can contribute to their health and vigour.