The Bumblebee Conservation Trust

[The witch]

Heard about this on the news this morning.

Bumblebees are beautiful little creatures - they are also important pollinators of wildflowers and crops - 3 species are extinct and 9 more are threatened

www.bumblebeeconservationtrust.co.uk/

The site also gives information on making a bumblebee nest box. If you see a bee and would like it identifying then take a photo and email it to the trust they will let you know what type it is, which will also enable them to gather information as to their distribution throughout the country.

[The witch]

I've seen loads of bee in my garden just lately - I really must make the effort to build a bumblebee nest box next year.

[madonplants]

Thanks The witch, missed this first time around! I agree we have quite a few bees around here. Probably all those weeds, no wildflowers coming out!!!

Keith

[debbiem]

I am so excited about what I think is going on in our garden. Two days ago, at about 1.45pm, a huge bumblebee landed on the flower bed and walked around on the soil in about an area on 3 square feet. Yesterday at about the same time the bee, we think it must be the same one, did exactly the same, as if it was looking for something. It scoured the area looking under every plant, nook and cranny and in and out of the stones in front of the flower bed. It spent ages doing this, so we think it must be looking for somewhere to make a nest in that area. Our neighbours' horse chestnut tree overlooks this area which is humming with bees at the moment. I hope we're right.

Debbie

[The witch]

Quote from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust web site:

Nest Box Trial
These days most good wildlife gardens contain several bird nesting boxes. The birds use them, and we love watching them building their nests and raising chicks. Not surprisingly, bumblebees need homes too! They probably struggle to find natural nesting sites, so we're keen to encourage people to start providing artificial sites in their gardens.....

[debbiem]

You know The witch, I was only discussing with OH yesterday if we should put a disused nesting box we have into this area. He didn't think much of the idea. I'll do that, in a moment.....

[debbiem]

At the back of this area is a stone wall full of nooks and crannies which is covered by thick ivy - I think if I put the nest box at the back there it can only encourage the bumblebee to hang around.
Of course, a lot of these nooks and crannies are occupied already by what must be the world's greatest condensed population of slugs and snails.

Debbie

[mickthecactus]

Where have all the bees gone? Early summer was very promising and my large potted Pieris was covered in them every day whilst flowering. Walking the dog this morning I went past a number of big lavender bushes in full flower but not a bee in sight. Anybody else noticed this?

[sweetleaf]

They came here to work on my Cotoneaster Mick, its buzzing from morning till night. Seriously though theres a virus wiping out whole colonies isnt there? It seems theres nothing can be done, as new colonies move into old infected nests :

[debbiem]

There's a lot around here too at the moment, in the garden and all around. There's a row of Hebe just down the road which is also swarming with bees - the children spotted two types, one with bright orange bums and the other sort with light yellow bums. The bright orange-bummed ones seem a bit smaller than the other ones.
I'm hoping to keep a hive next year.

[4pygmies]

Oh MrsB - I wish we lived nearer to each other! We appear to be kindred spirits...I am going to the local beekeepers society next month to start to learn about the whys and wherefores. I had a lovely chat to them at the last little Country Fayre I sold plants at and they said they could set me up with 2nd hand hives, suit etc. Funnily enough yesterday while I was at work my Mum said there was a swarm at the bottom of my garden. Missed it! I've wanted to keep bees for years and now I think I have sufficient food plants for them to keep them fed properly I'm going to make a start. We'll have to keep each other motivated. Have you kept them before? I haven't.....

[mickthecactus]

Well send some my way will you?

[sweetleaf]

Ill have a word with them shall I?

[mickthecactus]

Down the M1, turn left at the A10 interchange and then come off at the Tesco/M&S turning.

Tell them I'll meet them outside the New River Arms.......

[sweetleaf]

Consider it done.

They say they might beeee a while, they are bzzzzy at the moment!

[mickthecactus]

As long as they all behive themselves

[debbiem]

I've never kept them but have wanted to years too, 4P.
They do a 6 week course at the agricultural college not too far away, just a couple of hours once a week in the evening. I assume then after 12 hours of learning you're ready to take on a hive eeeek?
Thta'll be great, exchanging news, anecdotes, advice and sting remedies.
How exciting, the beekeeping society - that'll get you off to a good start....there's got to be one around here. I know that I got a number, this was years back, when I first thought about it so the experts are out there.......

[4pygmies]

Yes and they're DESPERATE to hear from people like us. When I approached them at the Fayre, I thought they were going to leap across the table and embrace me in a group hug - they were that pleased! Bees need as many of us as possible to help them now. It's our civic duty - and I never shirk THAT!

[cheerypeabrain]

I'm interested in bees as well...I have a book you know... : The one with 4 pages of bumble bee genitalia (bee porn)...I try and identify bumblebees when they visit the garden and they don't seem to mind me peering at them whilst they feast on the nectar and pollen in the flowers...I've grown quite a few bee friendly species of plants...things like hyssop and monarda, they loved the phacelia although I had to rip all that out after it got flattened by the rain.

[ladylouise62]

I heard an item on radio 4 the other day about some BB experts (sorry, didn't catch who exactly) and they were doing a BB nesting box trial. They had 400 different boxes... and only 2 were occupied!! THe problem is apparently that they like to take over abandoned mouse holes, so the stuff you pack the nest with needs to smell of mouse. I do have mice in my garden (sometimes in the house.. when they can avoid the cat!!), and so plan t set some up shortly so taht hey mice may use them overwinter, then hopefully.....

[Sleepy]

ladylouise62 said:

I heard an item on radio 4 the other day about some BB experts (sorry, didn't catch who exactly) and they were doing a BB nesting box trial. They had 400 different boxes... and only 2 were occupied!! THe problem is apparently that they like to take over abandoned mouse holes, so the stuff you pack the nest with needs to smell of mouse. I do have mice in my garden (sometimes in the house.. when they can avoid the cat!!), and so plan t set some up shortly so taht hey mice may use them overwinter, then hopefully.....

Good. let us know if you have any success.

I have placed a large teracotta flowerpot on it's side , filled with old hampster bedding, into the side of my compost bin in the hope of attracting bees to nest, but no luck so far.

We have a link to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust website on our website:

www.autumnfruits.co.uk/links.htm

[4pygmies]

There are quite a few bees about at the moment despite the weather. Which is good. I rescued a huge one that had got stuck in my conservatory at the weekend.
For those who don't know I grow plants to sell and my particular thing is native plants. I have a lot of crates full of unsold plants at the moment and it is very noticeable that the bees love the native flowers best. They seem to be very keen on Meadow Cranesbill which is in full flower at the moment. My point is - if at all possible plant a few native flowers in amongst your cultivated borders - many are truly beautiful and trouble free and are struggling to survive in the wild. Help the plants and you will help the bees too! (And without bees , we're all in trouble....)

[The witch]

ladylouise62 said:

I heard an item on radio 4 the other day about some BB experts (sorry, didn't catch who exactly) and they were doing a BB nesting box trial. They had 400 different boxes... and only 2 were occupied!! THe problem is apparently that they like to take over abandoned mouse holes, so the stuff you pack the nest with needs to smell of mouse. I do have mice in my garden (sometimes in the house.. when they can avoid the cat!!), and so plan t set some up shortly so taht hey mice may use them overwinter, then hopefully.....

That's very interesting I wonder if used pet mouse bedding would have the desired effect?

[cheerypeabrain]

Saw my first bumble bee of the year this afternoon...it was visiting the hellebores and pansies...poor thing. Hopefully it'll find somewhere warm and dry for the rest of the winter...it did look quite sluggish...

[elsie]

I had a huge Bumblebee nosing around the houseplants at work last week

Last year we had a Bumblebees nest in the wall at the front of the house - I hope they liked it enough to come back this year