Dead loss?

[Newbeeneil]

I got a call this morning to go and look at a nest high in a beech tree. It’s 25’+ up so unlikely to be able to cut it down without breaking my neck but if I could find a ladder tall enough I was considering wrapping it in a big plastic bag.
Any thoughts?

 

[Sutty]

Looks like a decent sized colony!
I doubt the addition of a plastic wrap will aid it's chances of overwintering enough to make it worth the risk.
Sadly I'd leave them alone. It would be interesting to see if they survive - they've got through wasp season ok!!

 

[roche]

A roof of some sort would help, and something to stop drafts...

 

[Ely]

A plastic bag would finish it off. Not much you can do without putting yourself at risk.

 

[madasafish]

A small roof from corrugated iron??? placed on top might aid chances of survival..

 

[Ely]

Swarms are 10 a penny in Spring. Not worth breaking your neck for

 

[The Poot]

What a shame. Hire a cherry picker!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Will it go into a double brood?
Cherry picker
Cut the comb off and let it drop into the box.
Lid on and take away.
probably won’t work though. Shame.

 

[Swarm]

I would just keep a regular eye on them and see how they do, certainly look to be doing OK so far.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Will it go into a double brood?
Cherry picker
Cut the comb off and let it drop into the box.
Lid on and take away.
probably won’t work though. Shame.

The beech tree is in a muddy field on a bit of a slope so even if I was willing to fork out for a cherry picked I probably couldn’t get it in there.
On reflection I think I’ll see how the get on over winter and if they survive see if they send out any swarms as they will be a tough lot if they make it to next year!!!

 

[roche]

Friendly farmer with a teleloader and a pallet?

 

[JamezF]

Friendly farmer with a teleloader and a pallet?

And a blind eye where "health and safety" is concerned? We could be describing one of my neighbours...

James

 

[Erichalfbee]

The beech tree is in a muddy field on a bit of a slope so even if I was willing to fork out for a cherry picked I probably couldn’t get it in there.
On reflection I think I’ll see how the get on over winter and if they survive see if they send out any swarms as they will be a tough lot if they make it to next year!!!

Even knowing how resourceful you are it was a daft suggestion.

 

[Sutty]

Unless you can find an abourist who is also a beekeeper, or just maybe one who is prepared to get you up and down safely, I'd leave well alone.
Not worth you risking your life for.

 

[Wilco]

Arbourist with climbing gear and bee suit. Lop off distal end of branch. Secure branch both sides of the colony with rope to a pulley system attached to a higher branch. Cut the branch they are on more proximally to the trunk than the rope. Lower it all down. Then decide what to do with them- may fit into a custom wooden box then?

 

[Antipodes]

Zoom in closely enough on the first photo and you can just make out the matchsticks…

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Covered in bees during the summer they must have been huge.
Hang a bait hive in that tree next year.

 

[ericbeaumont]

muddy field on a bit of a slope

A tripod ladder would get you safely up to 12-15' but at a price, so looks like the nest must stay unless you hire a scaffold tower: support legs splay out and give good stability. We used a tower to take a nest out of the Leyton Engineer pub in East London in the summer; notice Andrea's disgraceful disregard for safe ladder use.

I did a similar winter tree nest on Boxing Day last year, but at 12 feet up I could work off the Land Rover roof and bees that fell could be collected from the roof. Outer combs were empty, though there was a bit of fresh nectar; I cut the best and stacked them in a poly nuc, with twigs in-between combs to prevent crushing and to give access.

Bees were deeply docile and produced a big colony this year; they have a lot of Buckfast in them from an apiary about 100m away, but the beekeeper had a bad back and couldn't do the job.

 

[Newbeeneil]

A tripod ladder would get you safely up to 12-15' but at a price, so looks like the nest must stay unless you hire a scaffold tower: support legs splay out and give good stability. We used a tower to take a nest out of the Leyton Engineer pub in East London in the summer; notice Andrea's disgraceful disregard for safe ladder use.

I did a similar winter tree nest on Boxing Day last year, but at 12 feet up I could work off the Land Rover roof and bees that fell could be collected from the roof. Outer combs were empty, though there was a bit of fresh nectar; I cut the best and stacked them in a poly nuc, with twigs in-between combs to prevent crushing and to give access.

Bees were deeply docile and produced a big colony this year; they have a lot of Buckfast in them from an apiary about 100m away, but the beekeeper had a bad back and couldn't do the job.

View attachment 41717View attachment 41718

A tripod ladder certainly wouldn’t do this. As I said it’s over 25’ closer to 30 with the slope.

 

[The Poot]

A tripod ladder certainly wouldn’t do this. As I said it’s over 25’ closer to 30 with the slope.

Tripod ladder on top of a Land Rover?