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The flaw in your argument is that I live and my bees are situated slap in the middle of intensive agriculture with very few villages never mind urban environments in a radius of 50 km. French villages are species poor anyway, the French aren't into gardens in the same way the Brits are. We...

Thanks for that - handy. Chris

I did this for France http://wild-life-in-france.--------.fr/2014/06/honey-bee-populations-in-france-some.html Chris

I'm rather inclined to agree but it does as you imply seem to depend on who one asks. Still interested in any other comments. Chris

Actually the problem with the weather this year in much of France has only really affected the two crops, OSR and Sunflowers which both have relatively short flowering seasons and require specific temperatures and good weather but it needs to be said that if honey yields are going to depend on a...

This is mine. https://www.facebook.com/wildbeekeeper Can I put that? It would be nice if I can, it's Wildlife in France. Chris

Quite so, natural forage in my region is disappearing year on year in fact virtually the only place for miles around with anything other tha crops is my own land. The hedgerows are almost all gone and the roadsides are continually slashed every time a flower dare show itself. Yields across...

I constantly read about honey bees being in decline, huge colony losses etc much of it from apparently reliable sources, latest one to fall in my lap is from INRA, (Institut national de la recherche agronomique), who are Internationally recognised for their independence and high standards of...

Well said. Keep it simple. Chris

For anyone interested this is the distribution in France and is mostly confined to the higher ground and mountains - or non cultivated land. I suspect it will fit in with my existing land structure, I'll try a few different situations. http://www.tela-botanica.org/bdtfx-nn-82182-repartition...

It wasn't introduced on bomb sites, it took advantage of them as what we now call a pioneer species and I was there then. :coolgleamA: Perhaps someone has some first hand experience other than my old mate Finman which although based on first hand experience probably doesn't help me too much. I...

I'm probably more calm than you could possibly realise my friend but on the very rare occasion when I ask a question it's because I'm looking for an experienced informed answer. It's why you don't often see me on these places. :icon_204-2: You still haven't said what your personal experience...

Hefting works for me. Chris

If I was kidding I wouldn't have asked and I'm more than capable of using Google, that's why I specifically asked for actual first hand experience in the UK or France where I live. As it happens as a naturalist that gets around quite a large area I've never seen it growing here although a...

I stopped fiddling with them many, many years ago, never do inspections, never use any treatments and guess what? Yup, never have any problems and always have too many colonies despite getting rid of quite a number very year. Chris

Has anyone any actual first hand experience of honey bees on Rosebay Willowherb in either the UK or France and whether it produces much of a yield? Cheers, Chris

I have only seen some of the solitary bee species use it, mostly the very small types. Chris

Strangely it can flower earlier here in south west France than in the UK Chris

Good luck with what ever you do. Chris

Adding space is adding space it doesn't alter congestion that affects hive work. Chris