General Chat

Well you've got to help them after all it is National Bee Week at our local garden centre. However, they haven't come with instructions.....no problem I thought, there's always the Internet. Could I find any? Thinkyou put moss and hamster bedding in. Does anyone have one and did the bees nest?

your never gona encourage the"robo" bees are you?

the mahoosive this year

My Father in law had bees nesting in a bird box last year.
The birds had started to make a nest in the box but somehow the bees made it their home and the birds departed.

I would think that moss etc may help, its always worth a try.

Teresa

Give your local beekeepers association a ring, they are sure to help :-))

Sue

Have a look here..or just Google search Bee box.

http://www.wildlifegardener.co.uk/how-use-bumble-bee-box.html

Gwyn

Thank you for all your help :)

let us know how it goes SRS xx

Will do :)

I like the idea of a bee hive but know I'd be pretty useless at looking after them - this is the nearest I could get to supporting the bees. We've got to look out for them :)

I was wondering about that Lynda, it did cross my mind. However, there were other nesters at the garden centre which suggested dry nesting material so I am a little confused. Mine came with some cotton wool inside but I thought that may have just been the padding

The nester is like this one:

http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/product/41/dd0450/ceramic-bee-nester.html

It came with a little block of wood to place in front of the opening, so the bees can land on it :)

I may have a go at that too Lynda :) It's a good idea.

im going to do my bit for frogs lol may be lucky and get a newt or two did many moons ago xx

Thanks Lynda, that's been really helpful :)

Puss, the bit for frogs is to keep them away from my cats. I'd love a bird box but won't have one for the same reasons.

ah bless SRS , nice to see someone care so much xxx

Morning Puss and All, my Oh has a frog pond down on the allotment, which he looks after with great interest. When his bean row is in full bloom, he sprays the flowers with sugar water to attract the bees for pollination.
I'm not sure about the bees though, for me. I do fully appreciate their position in the natural world, but having recently been stung, for the first time in my life ever, I am rather put off, but do not discourage them in my garden, if that is possible.
I used to put food out for the birds, but the greedy squirrels have precluded me from doing this. Having trees around us, we have quite a few birds nesting, and this is always a marvel to watch.
Julia in Derbyshire