UK Honey Bee population down 33.8% :(

[Danp]

I try my best to encourage them but without going down the whole bee keeping route and I dont know if there is much else I can do. I have space at our allotment for a beer hive so maybe I should look into it

[Greenbeast]

I have space at our allotment for a beer hive so maybe I should look into it

 

 

 

sounds good

[ButterflyMoon]

http://www.gogobot.com/medias/resize/20000000005396574/375/500/

[Danp]

Haha! I think I would prefer that too!

[JJonas]

@mattx What sort of size garden do I need to set up my own hive?

 

Also anybody tried this? Wasp Cafe Experience - buy at Firebox.com

[Oaktech]

Not where I live... I have 3 new bee-keepers set up in the last 12 months on my road and one existing bee keeper add 2 new hives! On a sunny day my back garden is like walking through the bee equivalent of the m25!

[plexer]

 

Also anybody tried this? Wasp Cafe Experience - buy at Firebox.com

 

Why the hell would anyone want to go there? madness I tell you madness.

 

Ben

[Lftek55]

We have 4 hives at school, this is our 3rd year. Great fun when one swarmed on sports day last year!

Normally have a couple at home as well, but down to a small swarm I collected the other day from nearby.

Due to bad winters and non existent summer we still have had no honey.

[mattx]

@mattx What sort of size garden do I need to set up my own hive?

 

Also anybody tried this? Wasp Cafe Experience - buy at Firebox.com

 

I would say the bigger the better and to place them at the end, but do take into consideration neighbours, fences, drifting, flight paths etc. If you are going to start then join your local Bee Keepers Assoc, some will suggest locations and offer plenty of advice.

I'm lucky as at the moment I keep 2 hives down the end of my mums garden [ these will soon be moved ] and I have 1 in a nature reserve where I used to work. There is possibly one more going there as I need to split one of my hives. Also there is a new school opening near me where my missus works and they have a nature reserve and have approached me to introduce some hives there too.

[Lftek55]

I fully agree with @mattx, also get on some starter courses before getting some bees.

I have a problem in my garden as the next door neighbours keep lighting small smokey fires to burn their cat sh*t, and I've got nearly an acre of land.

[Dos_Box]

Well, after this weekend, and especially yesterday my bee related spirits are lifting. We have seen a very big increase in the amount of bees visiting our garden and especially in tree and buff tailed bees.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the late emerging queens offspring are only now emerging, which is a case of better late than never

[Sunnyknight]

Well, after this weekend, and especially yesterday my bee related spirits are lifting. We have seen a very big increase in the amount of bees visiting our garden and especially in tree and buff tailed bees.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the late emerging queens offspring are only now emerging, which is a case of better late than never

 

Aye, i can agree to this. Was out Saturday and yesterday. Saw quite a few buzzing round the blossoming flowers, not to mention my face!

As soon as i saw them, for some odd reason, i thought of this thread. O.o