Hive position

[panders]

Hi folks

Another newbie asking advice on hive position in my back garden. I have attached a couple of photos, South facing garden but well shaded by tall trees on bridle path behind. Pic attached

A bridle path runs behind the painted blue fence and I know it would be a good idea to get the bees to climb as high as possible if the hive entrance faces the bridle path direction.

I was thinking that the best position would be facing the brick wall with fence panel above as its a higher fence and a sunnier spot, however my question is whether the bees will then make the rest of the area unuseable for humans? If I position it towards the rear fence facing the bridle path will this make the garden more useable or will they just be everywhere regardless of where placed in this area?

The animal pen is for hens!
Thanks in anticipation!

 

[Ruthie]

I would suggest (this is something we are planning to do in our garden) that you could put a screen around them - you see this quite a lot with the new bee areas in national trust properties, to force them to fly up. It depends on where they are going to forage, but if they were going to the left on your picture, then i would imagine they would cut across the garden at walking height - which would mean navigating a line of bee traffic in order to get to your hens! If you build a screen around them (usually out of garden mesh type material) then it would force them up, thereby meaning they'd be flying above your head - hopefully!

It's hard to see from the picture - but could you put them behind your hen house next to the fence/wall on the right? Thus meaning that the fence/wall/hen house would naturally push them up - and the only place they'd fly human height would be to go left where you probably wouldn't be walking anyway?

Hope that helps,

Ruthie

 

[Ruthie]

ps. you have a nice hen house!!

 

[panders]

Thanks Ruthie

Yes that postion is one I considered but there is a small lean to greenhouse at the end of that wall which is not visible but I will rethink its use as that makes a lot of sense. Thanks!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Have you a garage with a flat roof?

 

[panders]

No unfortunately not EricA, our garage is an integral one.

 

[psafloyd]

Have you a garage with a flat roof?

So the flat roof is the floor of the bedroom above? Perfect. Leave the hive there and open a window.