Beginner

[Sutty]

I have a 2 big pussy willow trees (not mine) only about 50m from my hives - the bees are all over it when it flowers, a great early pollen source. I suspect that's why mine build up so well in the spring.

 

[ericbeaumont]

it is so quiet, no one comes down except the ones I mentioned. Got 'private keep out', no cold sellers

May feel secure and you are determined, but it sounds risky to me (but then I've had a colony taken from a more secure site than this). You haven't confirmed it, but I guess that the private road is accessible from the public. Once word gets out - it will, in time - it only takes a few minutes to load hives into a Transit.

300yds away there are open fields

Sounds a likely alternative; know the farmer?

 

[inthewoods]

you would be surprised who walks about whenyour not about .i have been stopped a few times and asked if i
have put some hives in a particular spot .signs dont stop everyone.
people talk .once they see hives .a innocent chat in the pub or shop .even by you .can lead to theft ..

 

[Terryc123]

May feel secure and you are determined, but it sounds risky to me (but then I've had a colony taken from a more secure site than this). You haven't confirmed it, but I guess that the private road is accessible from the public. Once word gets out - it will, in time - it only takes a few minutes to load hives into a Transit.


Sounds a likely alternative; know the farmer?

It really will be ok! The area is a retirement area, people round here wouldnt be able to move that fast, I am one of the 'younger' ones!

 

[Terryc123]

you would be surprised who walks about whenyour not about .i have been stopped a few times and asked if i
have put some hives in a particular spot .signs dont stop everyone.
people talk .once they see hives .a innocent chat in the pub or shop .even by you .can lead to theft ..

No one walks down here!! its going to be well screened, when I have finished!! Thanks tho

 

[Sutty]

A couple of temporary fence panels would be easy as screening whilst you sort everything.
Then you can get bees asap......

 

[Terryc123]

A couple of temporary fence panels would be easy as screening whilst you sort everything.
Then you can get bees asap......

Your not wrong!!

 

[Terryc123]

A couple of temporary fence panels would be easy as screening whilst you sort everything.
Then you can get bees asap......

Just noticed your Number of hives 4-12!! difficulty counting Sutty!!

 

[Sutty]

Just noticed your Number of hives 4-12!! difficulty counting Sutty!!

Currently 12 having had a very swarmy year last year & starting with too many.
Planning to unite back to 4-5 next month
Then possibly double again with splits/swarms for a while
On the plus side I got over 200kg of honey last year, though some here would probably say that's low.

 

[Terryc123]

Currently 12 having had a very swarmy year last year & starting with too many.
Planning to unite back to 4-5 next month
Then possibly double again with splits/swarms for a while
On the plus side I got over 200kg of honey last year, though some here would probably say that's low.

!! Not bad at all. Well done.

 

[Moobee]

Depends. If you plant crocus, snowdrops, hellebores, winter honeysuckle and willow they won’t.

That and chuck some borage seeds around.

 

[ericbeaumont]

chuck some borage seeds

Include Alkanet, a member of the borage family and a very good pollinator plant.

 

[madasafish]

Include Alkanet, a member of the borage family and a very good pollinator plant.

Highly invasive I believe with a deep taproot?

 

[Swarm]

Highly invasive I believe with a deep taproot?

Very, very deep!!!

 

[Sutty]

It's "surname" means "lives forever" which may indicate how hard it is to get rid of.
Maybe best planted in someone else's garden!

 

[drdrday]

Highly invasive I believe with a deep taproot?

It will come up again from the smallest scrap of root - I seem to be on an eternal quest to remove it from garden!

 

[ericbeaumont]

Highly invasive I believe with a deep taproot?

Yes, a thriver! Terry's area is ripe for it. Has a long flowering season and is brilliant for pollinators.

 

[madasafish]

Thanks but no thanks then..
Bad enough having self seeded borage.
Self blocking comfrey does not spread unlike normal comfrey but spreading and a deep tap root ? Not for me.

 

[Moobee]

Include Alkanet, a member of the borage family and a very good pollinator plant.

Might chuck those around in the out apiary then. I’ve got enough problems with bindweed and garlic chives (bloody things).

 

[Sutty]

Might chuck those around in the out apiary then. I’ve got enough problems with bindweed and garlic chives (bloody things).

What's the problem with garlic chives? Do they become invasive?