What if I haven't seen ANY honey bees this year?

[Farmer Tom]

I don't have any hives (yet) but have spent the past year looking for suitable locations on my farm.
I've also been on the look out for honey bees.
I've seen loads of bumbles, loads of hoverflies, and wasps of course.
But no honeybees.
I've done a bit of research and am confident I could recognise one if I saw one.

Does this mean I live > 3km from the nearest hive?
I have a selection of bee friendly plants, some planted specifically for the purposes of attracting bees from January through to.. well.. now.

 

[Robbo8916]

I don't have any hives (yet) but have spent the past year looking for suitable locations on my farm.
I've also been on the look out for honey bees.
I've seen loads of bumbles, loads of hoverflies, and wasps of course.
But no honeybees.
I've done a bit of research and am confident I could recognise one if I saw one.

Does this mean I live > 3km from the nearest hive?
I have a selection of bee friendly plants, some planted specifically for the purposes of attracting bees from January through to.. well.. now.

It could do, but it could also simply mean that any local honeybees have simply found a better source of food than that which you have been watching.

Plus they are quick, you have to stand still for a long time to spot one, unless you (like me) have lots of Himalayan Balsam around, then they're everywhere!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

you need to have a lot of plants - all of the same variety - to make bees thinks its worth their while flying to yours. They will be around, just on another flower.

 

[Millet]

I don't have any hives (yet) but have spent the past year looking for suitable locations on my farm.
I've also been on the look out for honey bees.
I've seen loads of bumbles, loads of hoverflies, and wasps of course.
But no honeybees.
I've done a bit of research and am confident I could recognise one if I saw one.

Does this mean I live > 3km from the nearest hive?
I have a selection of bee friendly plants, some planted specifically for the purposes of attracting bees from January through to.. well.. now.

Get yourself to Spec Savers , just messing they will be about somewhere, plant a couple of thousand Crocus and Hyacinth bulbs and come spring you will see bees, also goat willow can be easily planted by sticking bare 3ft branches into damp soil, they go bonkers for that also.

 

[tonyofarr]

If you have any Ivy anywhere check that out, if it is flowering you will see a variety of insects including honey bees.

 

[Farmer Tom]

Thanks Tony, I have a large stone pillar covered in ivy, which is in full bloom.
Over the past two warm days it attracted Wasps, Hoverflies, Bluebottles even, Not a single honeybee.
Actually, no bumbles either this morning, though it is a lot colder/greyer here.

 

[Teemore]

County Antrim has the Mid Antrim Beekeepers Association and the East Antrim Beekeepers Association. Their combined membership is likely to cover a fair swathe of the County.
Don't get too hung up on the idea that you are likely to be > 3km from the nearest hive: honeybees will generally focus their foraging activities within a much smaller radius of the hive. A single ivy covered pillar is unlikely to get the attention of a colony of honeybees but a big old blackthorne hedge that has been allowed to raise its crown above lorry height and is well enveloped by ivy would get their attention. Think bulk.

This may interest you: http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/p...iative/all-ireland-pollinator-plan/resources/