A little bit of information please

[MJDENN]

Hi, I am trying to find out if you can buy a hive just to put in the garden to help pollinate the plants. I don't want to keep bees for honey as yet, can you do this and if so what type of hive do I need to get?
Cheers
Mike

 

[Queens59]

Why not think about a bumble bee hive? Honey bees do need attention - and if queenless can make your garden a no-go zone - Bummblies might be safer...

 

[MJDENN]

Thanks for the info, can you recommend a suitable style of hive and or supplier?

 

[Bob Bee]

http://bumblebeeconservation.org/

 

[jackbee]

or find someone who would want to put a hive in your garden - look up your local association on the BBKA web site and get in touch

or if you do decide to go for bumbles, some plans

nestbox 1

nesttbox 2

nestbox 3

nestbox 4

although otoh this article implies bumble boxes don't work

 

[BeeJayBee]

If you're planning to buy bumble bees I think you'll find it's too late this year as the colonies are well into their season.

Bumble bees don't overwinter as colonies.

There are probably a lot of bumble bees suppliers, because they're often used by glasshouse strawberry growers. They don't pollinate quite as efficiently as honey bees, but tend not to sting, so are safer.

 

[fatshark]

I've had lots of success over the last couple of years attracting bees to "nests" consisting of cut up lengths of large diameter garden cane (with a hollow core) packed together in a piece of old plastic drainpipe. I attach them with zip ties to drainpipes or trellis around the garden, preferably in full sun. Best of all place them above head height (to avoid them) on a warm south facing wall. In early/mid Spring these get lots of attention.

These cost pennies to make in contrast to the commercial ones. Perhaps less aesthetically pleasing, but the plastic pipe provides weather proofing whereas a couple of purchased ones have succumbed to the rain and damp.

 

[Skyhook]

If you're planning to buy bumble bees I think you'll find it's too late this year as the colonies are well into their season.

Bumble bees don't overwinter as colonies.

There are probably a lot of bumble bees suppliers, because they're often used by glasshouse strawberry growers. They don't pollinate quite as efficiently as honey bees, but tend not to sting, so are safer.

I would suggest putting bumble boxes in the garden and crossing fingers, thus helping local populations, rather than buying dutch bred ones. Old mouse nests are a favourite so try to simulate that (anyone an expert on mouse nests?)

 

[Skyhook]

I've had lots of success over the last couple of years attracting bees to "nests" consisting of cut up lengths of large diameter garden cane (with a hollow core) packed together in a piece of old plastic drainpipe. I attach them with zip ties to drainpipes or trellis around the garden, preferably in full sun. Best of all place them above head height (to avoid them) on a warm south facing wall. In early/mid Spring these get lots of attention.

These cost pennies to make in contrast to the commercial ones. Perhaps less aesthetically pleasing, but the plastic pipe provides weather proofing whereas a couple of purchased ones have succumbed to the rain and damp.

This would attract solitary bees eg masonry or carpenter bees, rather than bumbles. Also good for lacewings- useful pollinators, and good predators of aphids. Why not provide some of these and bumble boxes as well?

 

[Walrus]

I agree that bumbles will be much better than honey bees in your situation.

One approach, which I have adopted this year, is to grow lots of bee friendly flowers in the garden. I have a small patch of "wild meadow" flowers which I got from http://www.pictorialmeadows.co.uk/annual_mixes and they are absolutely covered in bumble bees. I also got "perfect for pollinators" plants from the RHS http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Sustainable-gardening/Plants-for-pollinators

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