Robson Green visits Ryedale Folk Museum to try traditional skep-making for BBC show

Robson was joined by friend Chris Kamara, when the pair spent time in the region. Museum Director Jennifer Smith said, “We were absolutely delighted to welcome Robson Green and Chris Kamara to Ryedale Folk Museum. It was a real joy to see them exploring the museum and throwing themselves into skep making, a traditional craft with links to historic beekeeping in the North York Moors.”

The friends began with fossil hunting along the Yorkshire coast, and a trip on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, before spending a peaceful night underground glamping in nearby Yorkshire Burrows near Sinnington. Next stop was Ryedale Folk Museum, where Robson and Chris tried their hand at a traditional craft. They were taught by skep maker and museum volunteer Jim Wood, learning how these coiled, basket-style beehives were made and used long before modern hives became widespread.

“Skep making is one of those brilliant heritage crafts that connects us instantly to the skills developed and used by the people of the past,” explains Jennifer. “It’s a challenging craft, and it was instrumental in shaping our region – we’re very lucky that volunteer Jim is so generous with his time and skills.”

The North York Moors region still holds visible reminders of this beekeeping history in the form of ‘bee boles’. “These sheltered recesses were built into stone walls to house skeps and protect bees from harsh weather,” says Jennifer. “They really highlight just how important beekeeping once was to rural life in our region.”

A well-known example near Glaisdale includes 77 bee boles in a single wall. Skep making is now recognised as an endangered heritage craft in the UK.

The episode, scheduled for Monday 19 January at 18.30 on BBC 2, is now available on BBC iPlayer.