Where you put a beehive matters almost as much as how you manage it. A well-sited UK apiary balances sun exposure, shelter from prevailing wind, a nearby water source, safe distance from footpaths and neighbours, and freedom from flooding. This model lets you tune five real siting variables on a 3D plot of land and see how the hive's exposure, flight lines and flood exposure respond.
The British Beekeepers Association recommends at least 20 feet (about 6m) of clear flight path, or a barrier that forces bees to fly above 2m, wherever hives face a footpath, road or neighbouring garden — this single siting decision resolves most sting complaints before they start.
An interactive 3D plot of land where you can rotate a hive's entrance, raise or lower a windbreak hedge, move the water source, and adjust site elevation to see how each siting decision changes sun exposure, flood risk, flight-path safety and the effective foraging catchment.
Real UK apiary-siting trade-offs: a south-to-south-east entrance catches early sun, a ~2m hedge lifts bee flight paths above head height, water within about 20–150m keeps foragers close to home, and higher ground drains better and avoids flooding.
Drag the sliders to change entrance orientation, hedge height, water distance and site elevation, and toggle the forage radius disc. Watch the live score bar and per-factor readouts respond, then rotate the scene to inspect the hive from any angle.
A single well-placed hedge or fence about 2m tall in front of the hive resolves most neighbour sting complaints — it forces departing bees to climb steeply before they reach head height, well before they reach a footpath or garden.