Passionate about the environment and all things to do with nature. Oakdale Bees make by hand, natural, eco hive products including Beeswax wraps, wood, leather and bowl polishes, plus a range of eco gifts including ‘Make your own Beeswax wraps’ kits. British ingredients and eco packaging are sourced from ethical suppliers, which are centric to our philosophy.
Our values go beyond just beekeeping. We have planted over 800 nectar-rich species at our apiary to enrich the environment for pollinators, birds, bats, and butterflies, including trees such as Hawthorn, Field Maple, Bird Cherry, Dog Rose, English Oak, Guelder Rose, Hornbeam, and Hazel. Each late summer, we collect seeds to resow and expand our wildflower meadow with species that attract pollinators and are also visually outstanding.
Our aim is to encourage us all to make small changes and encourage healthy habits to effect greater change. The use of beeswax wraps verses clingfilm is a little daily win everytime. Gifting seeds rather than flowers wrapped in plastic that have been shipped halfway around the world. Switching to natural Wood, Leather and Chaopping Board polishes which contain no nasty addatives. We put some much pressure on however if we collectively make informed switches it does have an impact. So well done you for visiting our site and considering our selection of eco hive goodies.
We thought we would share some fascinating insights into beeswax, a key ingredient in all of our natural products. Beeswax (Cera Flava) is secreted by four pairs of wax glands located under the abdomens of honeybees. After feeding on royal jelly, the bees produce tiny wax platelets from these glands, which they use to build and maintain the hive. The platelets are scraped off by the bees, then chewed and softened with saliva and enzymes to create pliable wax. The colour of beeswax varies: it begins as pure white but turns golden as it absorbs propolis and traces of larval activity, and older wax can become very dark in colour.
Research into ancient pottery extracts has revealed that Neolithic peoples harvested and used beeswax to seal containers and preserve their food. For centuries, people relied on cool storage areas such as pantries, along with salting and pickling, to prevent spoilage. Before the mid-1800s and the advent of pasteurisation, food left exposed spoiled quickly and became susceptible to bacteria. Beeswax, however, has been used as a natural method of preservation for thousands of years. The practice of waxing fabric dates back to the Egyptians, with early records showing beeswax-coated cloth used to protect and extend the life of vegetables, fruit, and other perishables. When applied to fabric, beeswax created a versatile and reliable seal for clay and glass vessels, helping stored goods remain fresh for longer.
Beeswax forms the foundation of the honeycomb, creating the hexagonal cells used for raising brood and for storing honey and pollen. These perfectly uniform cells cradle developing larvae, hold essential food stores, and provide the structural base that supports the entire colony. The strength and efficiency of this natural architecture are remarkable and have inspired engineers around the world. Beeswax itself is exceptionally strong: for example, only about 100 grams of wax are needed to build all the cells in a single Langstroth deep frame. Its chemistry varies across bee genera and species, and in some bees, beeswax is thought to contain more than 300 different compounds.
Beeswax has no direct harmful effects on humans or larger animals. When combined with medicinal ingredients or baits, it can prolong their activity and release them slowly over time. It is an excellent electrical insulator and, when saponified with borax, forms long-lasting, stable emulsions ideal for cosmetics. Beeswax also offers anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. Naturally inert and highly pliable (and not the unpleasant kind of “plastic”), it provides protection against corrosion, abrasion, and moisture loss. Commercially, beeswax is used in metal casting, candle making, cosmetics, textiles, varnishes, food processing, and especially in preserving foods such as cheeses. Other natural animal waxes include whale wax and wool wax from sheep.
Beeswax candles have been used for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians crafted candles and used beeswax in embalming, while the Greeks and Romans incorporated beeswax candles into religious rituals and home lighting. During the Middle Ages, beeswax candles were a prized luxury, reserved for royalty, the wealthy, and churches, whereas poorer households relied on tallow candles, which burned with strong odours and dark smoke. The popularity of beeswax candles declined with the arrival of electricity, yet their appeal endures: beeswax candles burn cleanly, release natural negative ions, carry a subtle honey aroma, and provide a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to soy and paraffin candles.
Oakdale Bees began after completing a beekeeping course at BCA Berkshire Agricultural College, and we always encourage anyone interested in this rewarding hobby to learn the theory first. Local societies listed through the British Beekeeping Association (BBKA) provide invaluable support. Careful site preparation, checking frame sizes when buying a nucleus, and investing in a good bee suit will save time and effort. Partnering with a bee buddy makes inspections easier, and experience quickly shows that bees rarely follow the textbooks, so it’s fine to pause, seek advice, and adjust. Our Diploma in Natural Beekeeping confirmed that a beekeeper’s priority is always the welfare of the bees, not honey yield, and even if you cannot keep bees yourself, learning about and supporting them can be incredibly rewarding. Simply watching bees can bring calm and joy, and they give back far more than expected.
We create products that are handmade using materials that are locally sourced
Our products and packaging are sustainable and recyclable
We only source materials from manufacturers with similar ethical views
Our products only use natural materials, sourced from ethical providers
Easy, simply wipe with a clean damp dish cloth, sponge or under the cold tap and let it air dry or pat it dry with a clean towel.
Typically, between 6 months to a year and like us all it will get lines, folds and creases but just pop it on the compost and start a fresh. You can reheat in the oven at 150 for about 5 minutes but keen an eye on it and remember it will be super-hot but this will help take out some of the creases and redistribute the wax.
Oakdale Bees wax wraps contain 100% natural beeswax from our own Windsor apiary, responsibly sourced jojoba oil and natural pine resin which acts as a solvent it helps malleability and suppleness.
Well where do we start; the obvious is, It reduces the use of plastic in your home. It educates your kids not to automatically reach for the plastic You compost it therefore reducing the risk of pollution (just watch Blue Planet)! They are natural and non-toxic. Beeswax wraps support our lovely Oakdale Bees which in turn helps your flowers and fruits trees get pollinated. They need a little hug each time you use them to mould them, take a deep breath and a moment. We give you the choice or organic cotton and we offer a posh pretty pack too which make superb gifts.
Absolutely!
Abosutley not! The beeswax wraps will not survive in overly hot environments such as a cooker or dishwasher.
It’s rewarding but it’s not particularly easy. You must absolutely MUST go onto a course before embarking on the journey. You will need to join the BBKA British Bee Keeping Association (www.BBKA.org.uk) and we suggest you contact your local branch of bee keepers to seek advice. Please ensure you are comfortable handling the bees before they arrive so introduction courses are a great way to see if this is for you but It is a hugely rewarding vocation.
In essence anywhere however there are a number of considerations; firstly your family, your neighbours, are you next to a local school or public building, is the site safe from getting knocked or disturbed (Hive theft is prevalent), you will need a lot of kit, therefore can you store it nearby, do you have access to power and water. Again, we urge you seek advise from your local bee keeping society and ensure you take out the insurances, which is typically covered in the membership but once you have the bees onsite there are only a few times in the year that you are able to move them so think really carefully and ensure to research.
The differences between a honey bee and a wasp can be hard to spot as they can look similar, the bumble bee is easy to identify as our archetypal discernment of a bee however the honey bee is smaller and also has a more round body, please refrain from swatting or flapping your arms about if evident. The bee has little interest in you they will soon dissipate. Honey Bees live in a well organised colony. They do not hibernate. They produce honey and store it in wax comb and use the same hive from one year to the next. They pollinate crops. They only sting if threatened and then sadly die. Size 16 to 20mm. At Oakdale we have the British Buckfast bees.
Bees will not generally sting if unprovoked, usually the bee has been trapped or threatened to provoke its anger. A bee only stings under two conditions either to protect the colony, or when frightened. When close to a beehive avoid flapping your arms and moving rapidly, if the bees are antagonised walk away through undergrowth or trees if possible. When a bee stings, barbs in the lance of the sting cause it to torn from the bee as the bee is shaken off. You should scrape the bee sting out with your fingernail as the sting still pumps venom for some time after the bee has left. Having stung the bee will die. Although sometimes painful stings are rarely dangerous and need only some antihistamine or local anaesthetic cream from your pharmacist. Ask you pharmacist or call NHS 111 for further advice or see https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings/. You must tell someone you have been stung at the time should you have a later reaction. And not to alarm you but a small number of people are strongly allergic to stings and can become very ill. If there is any shortness of breath, dial 999. Source BBKA
Don't Panic, bees in a swarm are universally in a good mood. They cannot easily sting even if antagonised typically they have gorged themselves with honey and cannot get their bodies into the best position to sting. If the swarm is not causing a nuisance then leave it, gradually the bees will cluster in a bush or tree and remain there for up to 3 days. During that time scouts will be sent out to look for a new home. The only problem maybe they will choose your chimney. If, as the bees begin to settle, you put your fire/ heating on low this often persuades them to move on. Google your local bee society and they typically the swarm collectors’ mobile numbers , for speed we suggest you text them a picture for ease of identification. Source BBKA
It is possible for bees to fly as far as 3 miles for food, however an average distance would be less than a mile from the hive. A strong colony flies the equivalent distance of to the moon every day! We urge you to support the B lines initiatives detailed on our charities page and scatter the seeds we will send with your purchase.
Our motivation for starting an apiary, apart of course from our passion for bee was to do our bit to abate thealarming decline in the species and the environmental eco system they support. If each of us makesmall changes it will make a difference. Please read more about out Bees Wax Food Wraps which area must for any fridge, packed lunch or picnic.
Our Charities
Bug life is a charity which undertakes various fantastic initiatives to encourage us all to be more aware with bees and all insects. Read more about ‘B lines’ which creates linked ‘highway’ for bees and pollinators around the UK which we can all enjoy and appreciate.
Our Charities
In 2000, Friends of the Earth started campaigning for a new recycling bill which would mean every household in the country would have a doorstep recycling service . The bill would mean that by 2010, local authorities would have to provide every household in England with a separate collection of at least two types of recyclable materials. This has now become the norm thanks to Friends of the Earth . We encourage you to reed more on how you can support their current amazing d campaigns which includes how we can help save the bees and reduce plastic waste.
