Where are all the bees?

[StephenH]

Most of my apple trees are coming up to full blossom, and they are absolutely covered in blossom this year, and we've had some beautiful warm, sunny weather recently (though it's blustery with intermittent rain today), but I haven't yet seen a single bee in my garden (and I have looked for them), and precious few anywhere. I know their populations are in trouble, but this is worrying - I need them to pollenate my apples! Am I doomed to another poor apple harvest?

[Irish-Veg]

here in Ireland I have only seen one bee so far this year

I have apple trees in full blossom as well, not too bothered about pollination this year as they are only a 1yr and id rather they use their energy this year for putting down good roots but i need the bees for basically everything else /:

[Madasafish]

My bees have been gathering yellow willow pollen. But it's been a prolonged and cold winter so many bee colonies have died or been dramatically reduced in numbers and the late spring means an average delay of 4-5 weeks in colonies getting larger.

Mine are sitting safely in hives waiting for the rain to go and for the temperature to rise.. below approx 10C they rarely fly..(Bees are cold blooded).

I guess I have seen maybe 200,000 bees this year: at this time last year it would have been nearer 500,000.Mainly in hives of course and not all at once.. and definitely not all mine! The equivalent numbers at peak last year would have been nearer 1.4 - 1.8 million.

[Thelma Sanders]

Plenty in my garden - I keep releasing them from the greenhouse. The silly bs find their way in and then can't find their way out again unless I open the doors wide for them

[wizzbang]

There have been lots in the gardens here at Cressage too. In the greenhouse, buzzing in the flowers and getting their fill of all the pollen. All very busy, buzzing bumble bees. All sorts of different types of bees too. Massive ones and ordinary ones and little ones.
Come on mother nature, do your stuff.
I am hoping that the bee numbers improve and i'm glad that the government is being forced to protect our bees from the modern pesticides we have been killing them with.
Lynne x

[ugley_matt]

I've been out with my wifes make-up brush pollenating as last year all the blossom fell off before i saw any bees. So far i've only seen a hand ful.

[rustylady]

Plenty here in Lowestoft, both in my garden and at the allotment.

I have a cottage type garden, with plenty of flowers (and dandelions) as well as the apple tree and plum tree.

[StephenH]

I've been out with my wifes make-up brush pollenating as last year all the blossom fell off before i saw any bees. So far i've only seen a hand ful.

That's what I'm going to do on Saturday, with my smallish bushes on M26.

[SarzWix]

Lots here in the last few days too, on the currants, gooseberries, blackthorn, flowering cherry, dandelions...

[yummersetter]

We lost 4 of our 5 honey bee colonies over the winter, they won't go out in high winds, cold or rain so they didn't stock up enough on food to have a strong force of young bees to get through such a long winter. The few that did make it were working hard earlier this week and finding damp rocks by the stream to get water.

[Olorin2001]

Not seen one honey bee so far this year, plenty of hoverflies, bumblebees and wasps - plus too many white butterflies and the usual number of pretty ones.
Not allowed to keep bees on any allotments in Southampton and the two plot holders who had bees at home lost them all this winter.
Why is it that wasps find there way in and out of the greenhouse, yet bumblebees spend their time banging their heads against the glass? I must spend hours each year catching them in cupped hands and throwing them out.

[flopsy]

plenty of bees here. keep getting into greenhouse but cannot get back out even though i open window and door so sometimes i have to catch them in jam jar and release them outside

[Two_Sheds]

not many bees here yet, just the odd one or two (mostly honey bees).

The queen bumblebees are the only ones to be seen in spring, searching for nest sites (only the queens survive the winter).
She will lay eggs and the next generation of bees emerge in early summer

Lifecycle | Bumblebee Conservation Trust

[wizzbang]

Masses of queenies here two sheds, looking in all the nooks and crannies checking out which one would make the nicest comfy home. I love them, fluffy and bright !
Lynne x

[alldigging]

My bees are ok but don't like the blustery wintery weather - just hope it cheers up again soon.