Bees nest - Options?
Discussion
Evening all
I've noticed today that a small bird house in our garden seems to have been taken over by bumble bees. I can only assume there is a bees nest inside it, as there are at least 5 or 6 flying round it at all times, and many crawling around the entrance.
Our garden is very small so we can't really leave it where it is.
What options to do I have?
The councils website says they sort it out for £65, is this a good deal or would a smaller outfit do it cheaper?
Any DIY options?
ps I'm pretty much terrified of bees, so going near it is not an option.
I've noticed today that a small bird house in our garden seems to have been taken over by bumble bees. I can only assume there is a bees nest inside it, as there are at least 5 or 6 flying round it at all times, and many crawling around the entrance.
Our garden is very small so we can't really leave it where it is.
What options to do I have?
The councils website says they sort it out for £65, is this a good deal or would a smaller outfit do it cheaper?
Any DIY options?
ps I'm pretty much terrified of bees, so going near it is not an option.
ts a chance to get away. Send me the birdhouse - I'd love a bumblebee nest in my garden!
Seriously, leave the nest where it is. Bumblebees are fascinating creatures, and do a very good job of pollinating plants. Most bumblebee nests are quite small - just dozens of bees rather than the hundreds in a honey bee hive (or - ugh - a wasp's nest).
Don't be afraid of them, they are very docile. You would have to be really nasty in order to provoke one into stinging you. Just enjoy watching them.
Seriously, leave the nest where it is. Bumblebees are fascinating creatures, and do a very good job of pollinating plants. Most bumblebee nests are quite small - just dozens of bees rather than the hundreds in a honey bee hive (or - ugh - a wasp's nest).
Don't be afraid of them, they are very docile. You would have to be really nasty in order to provoke one into stinging you. Just enjoy watching them.
If it is bumblebees then they are utterly harmless, incredibly useful and fascinating things to watch, please don't "burn them". They are also absolutely essential to the ecology of the country and agriculture as pollinators. Just leave them bee 
If it's honeybees then exactely the same applies. They won't harm you, worst that is likely to happen is being woken by one buzzing at a window.
I suspect part of the reason bees are struggling is that uninformed people think they are in some way a threat to their chidlren, dogs or whatever so burn them as a first resort
If it's honeybees then exactely the same applies. They won't harm you, worst that is likely to happen is being woken by one buzzing at a window.
I suspect part of the reason bees are struggling is that uninformed people think they are in some way a threat to their chidlren, dogs or whatever so burn them as a first resort
Cheers for the replies.
Sadly I dont think leaving it there is an option. It's a very small garden and its right in the middle of it attached to the side of an out building. At the moment we are surrounded by bees as soon as we walk out the back doors....
I'll phone round a few places tomorrow. Hopefully I can find someone who can "relocate" it. I'd prefer that to killing them.
If I had big enough balls I'd relocate it myself.
Sadly I dont think leaving it there is an option. It's a very small garden and its right in the middle of it attached to the side of an out building. At the moment we are surrounded by bees as soon as we walk out the back doors....
I'll phone round a few places tomorrow. Hopefully I can find someone who can "relocate" it. I'd prefer that to killing them.
If I had big enough balls I'd relocate it myself.
Seek said:
Oh har har 
OP, please don't harm them.
Bumble bees fulfil a useful function and moreover aren't aggressive: if a bumble stings you it gets it's arse ripped out and dies horribly.
Not like wasps, which can (and will) sting you just for the fun of it.
Mobile Chicane said:
Seek said:
Oh har har OP, please don't harm them.
Bumble bees fulfil a useful function and moreover aren't aggressive: if a bumble stings you it gets it's arse ripped out and dies horribly.
Not like wasps, which can (and will) sting you just for the fun of it.
Turn7 said:
basically the best reason for nuking it from orbit.Though OP has seen that film where the kid shoots a bees nest and their entire house is taken over by bees- right ??????????!?!
Seriosuly OP, if you can possibly leave the nest where it is, please try. Bumblebees are in sharp decline, and a healthy nest is a pretty rare thing.
If it's any help, the chances of being stung while in the garden are near-nil - bumblebees are very docile.
I'd try speaking to local beekeepers rather than pest control, see if they can help relocate the nest.
http://www.gardenersworld.com/blogs/wildlife/movin...
If it's any help, the chances of being stung while in the garden are near-nil - bumblebees are very docile.
I'd try speaking to local beekeepers rather than pest control, see if they can help relocate the nest.
http://www.gardenersworld.com/blogs/wildlife/movin...
Sarkmeister said:
Sadly I dont think leaving it there is an option. It's a very small garden and its right in the middle of it attached to the side of an out building. At the moment we are surrounded by bees as soon as we walk out the back doors....
They're just checking you out. Most bees do it. Just put your hands in your pockets, don't swipe at them and they will fly around you for a few seconds then go away. So long as you don't threaten them they will leave you alone.951TSE said:
Sarkmeister said:
Sadly I dont think leaving it there is an option. It's a very small garden and its right in the middle of it attached to the side of an out building. At the moment we are surrounded by bees as soon as we walk out the back doors....
They're just checking you out. Most bees do it. Just put your hands in your pockets, don't swipe at them and they will fly around you for a few seconds then go away. So long as you don't threaten them they will leave you alone.Anyway, a kind man came round and took the nest (for a fee obviously). He assured me he wasnt going to kill them, I think he wss just going to put it somewhere else. We did have a few confused looking bees flying round for a day after but they seem to have moved on.
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