I 'inherited' two 8'x6' bee sheds when I took over the bees at a local fruit farm almost twenty years ago and I have to say that, having kept four colonies in each for some years, I would not now keep bees in sheds through choice. This shed has one colony left in it - useful for deterring unwelcome visitors. In my view, the only use for sheds is for storing spare equipment! Here are some of my reasons, together with suggestions for alleviating the pain if you are determined to keep bees in a shed:

Smoke! Another Health & Safety issue. If you like breathing lots of smoke then a bee shed is for you. Although the corrugated plastic roof helps with the ventilation, being in a shed with a smoker is very unpleasant.

Maintenance. It is often argued that the hive boxes will last longer because they are inside and that there is a cost saving because roofs are not required and cheaper boxes can be used. Cheap pine hives are used outside all over the world; if properly preserved they last just as well as cedar - probably better if you have woodpeckers in your area - so there is no cost saving in the boxes. However, against this there is the cost of the shed and its maintenance.

Working in bad weather. It is a myth that you can work the bees easily in bad weather. Think about it - where will all the flying bees be? Answer, at home!

Neighbours. There is an argument that you can keep bees in a shed without neighbours realising that they are there. They will find out that you have bees sooner or later, even if you do hide them in a shed, so surely it is better to be open and get them on your side from the beginning rather than appearing deceitful.

Crops. In my experience, crops and winter survival rates were no better in sheds than in hives outside.

Floors and ventilation. It is argued that hives and floors stay drier in a shed. Open mesh floors (OMFs) will eliminate dampness in hives outside and may also be useful for hives in a shed because it can get extremely hot in a shed in the summer.

Vermin. Bee sheds are a magnet for mice and sometimes rats. I regularly caught thirty or forty mice during a winter in each shed and without mouseguards colonies were often wiped out. Mouseguards can be difficult to fit, so consider making the entrances small enough to keep them out - OMFs will provide the extra ventilation needed and the mesh will stop mice from chewing their way in through the floor (they do!). Spare equipment stored in the sheds needs to be sealed very carefully with metal screens top and bottom to stop mice chewing their way in. A stack of supers in which a mouse has nested is pretty disgusting by the following spring, with combs covered in mouse excreta and fit only for the bonfire.

Spiders. These are also attracted to bee sheds and can quickly festoon the inside of the shed with cobwebs; these need removing regularly to avoid trapping bees when the hives are opened and bees fly to the windows - or crawl everywhere.

Vandalism. Sheds present a large target for vandals so use acrylic sheet rather than glass for windows.