Garden apiarys

[Curly green finger's]

Here's my plan of my garden apiary not to scale but it gives an idea of the lay out.

Some people say that it's not good advice to have one but it's been the best thing I've ever done!
This is not all of the garden and it measures 290ft x 40 ft.

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[Murox]

There's nothing wrong or bad about a garden apiary; in many ways its ideal but all the usual apiary site consideration still apply though. I think problems arise because a typical garden is only around 40 sq ft including the patio, washing line, shed, greenhouse and veg patch all squashed in and is surrounded by dense housing sporting more similar sized garden spaces. Everyone wants the right to enjoy their garden space and sharing it with even one hive from hell would make you very unpopular.

 

[B+.]

Here's my plan of my garden apiary not to scale but it gives an idea of the lay out.

Have you considered the neighbours?
I assume from the layout that you have neighbours on both sides. If they aren't completely "on board" with your plan, you may be onto a loser before you start.

Personally, I don't like the idea of bees being in such close proximity to people. Inevitably, someone will get stung. The pain of a sting is one thing but, if they are allergic, you don't want to be responsible for someones' death.

 

[For want of a better word]

Rule of thumb from my old friend Bill Maddiver a beekeeper of 70 years experience, was...
never place a hive of bees visible from someones house!

 

[Mrsteve]

I have one hive in my garden. No problems so far but the way I see it is bees can come from anywhere. There is a garden centre about 250 yards down the road from my house which has an apiary. Any one of them bees can go into my neighbours garden and give them a sting. So what’s the difference?

 

[Curly green finger's]

Interesting I do have niebours to the left I also have hives 30 metres away on common land and an out apiary half a mile away..
Our property is surrounded by common land no other properties for half a mile.
My neighbour is on board and has a steady honey supply.

I might have more options than most being where I am

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[Show me the honey]

I have one hive in my garden. No problems so far but the way I see it is bees can come from anywhere. There is a garden centre about 250 yards down the road from my house which has an apiary. Any one of them bees can go into my neighbours garden and give them a sting. So what’s the difference?

Bees generally don’t sting for no reason away from the hive. Being on the other side of the fence near the hive is reason enough for some bees.

I’ve had them in the garden for 4 years turned abit last year so just going to have nucs here now

 

[Murox]

I have one hive in my garden. No problems so far but the way I see it is bees can come from anywhere. There is a garden centre about 250 yards down the road from my house which has an apiary. Any one of them bees can go into my neighbours garden and give them a sting. So what’s the difference?

I think the difference is probably

Rule of thumb from my old friend Bill Maddiver a beekeeper of 70 years experience, was...
never place a hive of bees visible from someones house!

 

[Erichalfbee]

I have one hive in my garden. No problems so far but the way I see it is bees can come from anywhere. There is a garden centre about 250 yards down the road from my house which has an apiary. Any one of them bees can go into my neighbours garden and give them a sting. So what’s the difference?

The difference is your relationship with your neighbours
They have every right to enjoy their garden and if they are being stung they WILL blame your bees. Neighbourhood disputes can quickly escalate to make both sides’ life unbearable. You do need somewhere to move them at a moments notice

 

[Curly green finger's]

The difference is your relationship with your neighbours
They have every right to enjoy their garden and if they are being stung they WILL blame your bees. Neighbourhood disputes can quickly escalate to make both sides’ life unbearable. You do need somewhere to move them at a moments notice

I Agree with you, an out apiary is really a must, or at least somewhere you can move them to.

Funny though dani how things have changed years ago there was more hives in gardens.. So I've been told, we're bee's gentler then?


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[Erichalfbee]

I Agree with you, an out apiary is really a must, or at least somewhere you can move them to.

Funny though dani how things have changed years ago there was more hives in gardens.. So I've been told, we're bee's gentler then?


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Maybe but I think people are generally less tolerant and increasingly stroppy these days.
Madness! There is goodness and unselfishness in most people but there are a few who leave a lot to be desired.

 

[B+.]

They have every right to enjoy their garden and if they are being stung they WILL blame your bees. Neighbourhood disputes can quickly escalate to make both sides’ life unbearable. You do need somewhere to move them at a moments notice

This is not only a matter of being a good neighbour, it is a fundamental to property law....they have the right to enjoy the rights and privileges of ownership.

An out-apiary is essential IMHO

 

[Beefriendly]

I have neighbours both sides and currently 11 (was 12) hives about 25m's from my sun porch door. I won't say there haven't been the odd problem over the years, particularly so when I kept local mongrels....But trouble free for last 6/7 years. The benefit of keeping docile bees. AND.....
I would never keep hives in the garden unless I had another apiary site to move any potential problem hives to. That, to me, is the essential bit needed by anyone keeping hives in their garden with neighbours close by.

 

[For want of a better word]

I have neighbours both sides and currently 11 (was 12) hives about 25m's from my sun porch door. I won't say there haven't been the odd problem over the years, particularly so when I kept local mongrels....But trouble free for last 6/7 years. The benefit of keeping docile bees. AND.....
I would never keep hives in the garden unless I had another apiary site to move any potential problem hives to. That, to me, is the essential bit needed by anyone keeping hives in their garden with neighbours close by.

Totally different scenario when ones wife is allergic to honey bee stings ( has been desensitised and carries full prescribed emergency medications)...
AND a new neighbor... just moved in... asked if the WBCs in my garden had bees in them as her husband used to keep bees and gave up after an anaphalytic episode that needed hospitalisation .
On speaking to him { observing the 3 meter distancing rule} I explained the lifts were just in store... he said he kept Danish Buckfasts that his association had especially imported from a famous breeder ( Keld B ?) then one day they just turned on him!!

Moving the bees to an out apiary ( where they should be and out of sight of any houses) may just bee too late!

Analogous to parking your Ferrari in a busy city neighborhood with the keys left in the ignition and your handbag stuffed full of cash on the seat!

Make your choice... Russian Roulette ?

Yeghes da

 

[Beefriendly]

Really.....

 

[Curly green finger's]

I can see your nose from here.

Funny

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[Murox]

Maybe but I think people are generally less tolerant and increasingly stroppy these days.
Madness! There is goodness and unselfishness in most people but there are a few who leave a lot to be desired.

Open-mindedness, tolerance and fairness is disappearing in society generally, ethics have become relative, truth and knowledge have become simply whatever individuals or society say it is. The Golden Rule - treat others in the way you want them to treat you.

 

[B+.]

Make your choice... Russian Roulette ?

On this occasion, I agree with you. Not as part of some academic argument but because I have personal experience which compels me to speak.
As some of you know, my own son died of anaphylaxis following a single bee sting. He was just 17 and we believed, as some of you do, that nothing bad would ever happen to us. It is the hardest thing in the world to watch someone die. Harder still when it is one of your own family.
I pray none of you ever feels that pain.

 

[pargyle]

My bees are in my garden but ... they have been there for a long time and I've had no issues with neighbours whatsoever but .... they are in an area surrounded by either 6' fences, 6' wall, workshop or greenhouse and well away from my immediate neighbour's gardens. One side of my garden is tree lined wide road verge and their usual flight path does not take them over neighbouring properties (although they always seem to fly over my wife's car !).

I would not entertain agressive bees in any situation and I have an alternative site if it is needed.

Keeping bees is all about measured decisions - I think that people intending to keep bees in their garden should make them on a fairly extensive list of criteria and how they could potentially affect the neighbour is at the top of the list.

It is possible but location, location, location .... is probably the governing factor.

 

[For want of a better word]

It is possible but location, location, location .... is probably the governing factor.

YES my wife really did nearly die from a simple bee sting......
thankfully in her case the paramedics got here in time.

sarkey comments about noses etc etc are really not required!