Help/advice needed on honey bee nest please

[BeeHappyFlutterBy]

Hope someone can advise- I have a honey bee nest in the pine end of the roof, its been there most of the summer.No problems caused as its at the rear of my property and the bees are to-ing and fro-ing without causing any bother to either twolegged or fourlegged occupants here
They have enjoyed the garden and seem a peaceable bunch, just doing what bees do best pollinating away to their hearts content
Now as it would have needed the tiles removing to relocate the Bees, a job i felt to much to undertake it was decided to leave well alone until they finished their season. So the question is, will they overwinter there if left undisburbed or naturally move or die off. As i need to get the roof looked at before winter sets in and the gap will no longer be there in the future. Naturally i vehemently do not want the bees harmed or blocked in
Any advice appreciated

[veggiechicken]

If you're certain its a honeybee colony, ask the local beekeeping society to remove it for you.

[BeeHappyFlutterBy]

If you're certain its a honeybee colony, ask the local beekeeping society to remove it for you.

Thank you VeggieChicken did cross my mind that they might help- will search for a local society as you suggest

[nickdub]

If you can get a couple of photos of a bee it would be easy enough to confirm what sort they are.

I keep bees but I would be extremely reluctant to try to remove a colony from a roof space, though there are some keepers who will do it. The main problems are a) practical, its a v tricky job and b) financial, I have no sort of insurance cover if something goes wrong.

The only other option which could leave the bees in place and surviving if it is a colony, would be to provide an alternative entrance for them, like a piece of plastic water pipe with a bend in it to stop the rain getting in - they will find their way through a meter of pipe quite easily, if given time to get used to it.

[veggiechicken]

BHFB, you haven't told us where you live. Its difficult to help you with local contacts without that information.
Most new members post at Introduce Yourself! We know you like flowers, bees and butterflies but we're a nosey lot, so something about the sort of gardening you do, garden or allotment, livestock etc is always welcome.

[bario1]

I think wild colonies rarely make it through the winter unless conditions are absolutely perfect?

[nickdub]

I think wild colonies rarely make it through the winter unless conditions are absolutely perfect?

That's true for colonies which start as a swarm in the current year, mostly because the bees struggle to get enough honey stored and build comb to make it through the winter. In this case the bees seem to have been there for more than a year so I guesstimate the chance of them surviving in to next year if left alone as about 80%.

Most of the bees I have came from "wild" swarms and I hope to get 80+% of the hives through a winter. They can also die out of course in the summer if the current queen fails for some reason, and they are unable to produce a new one.

A roof space is pretty much ideal for bees as it usually dry and dark, and quite well protected from any intruders like mice. They can also benefit from a bit of borrowed heat from the house in the colder months, as they need to use less honey to keep warm.

[Snoop Puss]

BHFB, I agree with nickdub about colony survival. But at this stage of the season, it would be very tough on them to move as they could lose stores, brood and bees during the process, leaving them in a weakened state as they head into autumn and winter, especially if you live in colder climes where autumn temps start earlier. Talk to your local beekeeping society to get their views.

I like nickdub's idea of an alternative entrance.

[BeeHappyFlutterBy]

Thanks everyone for your replies and input ive been chatting to a beekeeper this morning and have lots of professional advice and contacts of other Beekeepers.
As mentioned in my initial post I would never have attempted to move/disturb the Bees or put them in any jeopardy, hence that's why i asked the question first and would only act on the advice of an experienced Beekeeper - my main concern is that in the approximately 5mths they have been there, they seem quite a large colony, so as previously mentioned may at some point potentially swarm. So if ,as I've discussed with the Beekeeper a bait hive can be placed at the best optimum time - they hopefully can have a better opportunity of survival bless um.Anyway im sure that will be the next chapter in my new found charges so will update when i have more news Hopefully Bee back soon - pardon the pun lol

[Snoop Puss]

That's a partial solution, BHFB. Some of the bees may leave with the swarm, assuming they do in fact swarm next year, but you'll still be left with a colony.
Either way, you've done a great thing. And whoever gets those bees will be a very lucky beekeeper.

[veggiechicken]

Bait hives are put out end of April before the swarm season. If you need your roof looked at before winter you will need a PlanB.

[veggiechicken]

Honey 'oozed' through ceiling from hive in Leicestershire home - BBC News

[nickdub]

Thanks for that VC - interesting read - I do wish the NEWS people would not use the word "hive" for a colony of wild bees though. I feel it should be just used for containers made by people designed for a bee-colony to live in.

[veggiechicken]

I agree Nick. We used to keep bees many years ago.

[BeeHappyFlutterBy]

Update

Just got off the phone, couldn't be more pleased got a Beekeeper coming out to inspect and take advice on what to do next Think they were most intrigued by my Wildflower garden, and the promise of lots of plants plugs for their new Wildflower Meadow their in the process of creating. Haha!! freebie plug plants = a Honey trap for Beekeepers