Recent content by Happygran

Technically none although I joined to get information on the nest in the wall under my bedroom window. This is still thriving and plans are to beekeep more formally when we have time. 2 years ago my son, his family and I bought 15 acres in Devon with a semi derelict house that had been empty for...

Definitely cherry laurel and if anyone can tell me how to get rid of it I'll be delighted. Apparently it contains arsenic, nothing grows on or under it, cut it back and it sends out shoots that grow an inch a month and every twig touching the ground sends out roots. We have probably an acre or...

If frost killed it off, there would never be a problem. It's been prolific this year, but the chickens love it. You can let it sprout a bit more then eat it like spinach. Otherwise cardboard weighted down so it doesn't blow away and plant through it.

Took down some wall lights to refurbish and rewire. Noticed a few solitary bees around, but today one of the brass fittings where the lamp holder is screwed was very neatly capped with leaves. How long before we're able to use it?

We have foxes living quietly on our land. So far they have never troubled our chickens. I woke one night to the sound of caterwauling and whimpering. Our 10 year old long haired overweight cat was supervising the slinking departure up the drive of a very embarrassed fox. The cat watched it...

They enter their nests from outside, but in spite of closed windows and filling any gaps I find, they still get in. Obviously cleverer than I am. It's a very old and tatty house.

I have a bees' nest in the wall under my bedroom window with entry under the cill outside. Last year wasps moved in to the other end of the wall next to the bees and gradually increased to epidemic proportions. While the bees occasionally come into the room at night to investigate the lamp, the...

I'm pretty sure they're honey bees, although recently they've been joined by much larger, black tailed, long legged ones. I'm planning to do a course when I can and no way would I attempt a removal myself. It's very pleasant lying in bed listening to them. I just worry about honey dripping...

Having moved into a house that's been empty for 10 years I've a thriving bees' nest in the wall under my bedroom window. I'd planned to start keeping bees, but how and when would it be possible to transfer my residents? Or should I just leave them in peace and start a hive with new bees?