Bees and open water.

[bluemoon]

My water butts are re-cycled plastic chemical drums and are impossible to keep covered, I've tried many different methods, but the slightest breeze dislodges everything I try. Last year I had to rescue loads of bumble-bees from them, and I assume that when I wasn't around plenty were not so fortunate. Would an old broom handle or bamboo cane in the water allow them to climb out? Or can anyone come up with a fool-proof method for keeping some kind of cover on them.

[smallblueplanet]

Drill a couple of holes in the lid and the top edge of the barrel and wire the lids on? Hmmm maybe you have no lids...sorry having an illogical moment.

[Sue]

Bluemoon
I haven't noticed bumblebees in my open waterbutt, which means a) Bob the Goldfish has eaten them b) They've all fallen in and drowned on the 3 days I'm not on the allotment or c) They've fallen in and climbed back out via the branches I've stuck in there as an emergency exit!
Sue

PS I thought branches better as easier for insects to cling to??

[bendm]

I found a squirrel in mine.I think the weight of eating all my strawberries had dragged him under.

[Headfry]

I too worry about open water containers on the plots. We have a rule (lots of little people about) that water butts etc. must be covered. On open sites this is hard to do. A method of escape for wildlife is a very good idea, saw 3 baby birdies dead in one butt - heart breaking.

[bluemoon]

The butts don't have lids, but we've tried several methods of covering them including an old car wheel, a piece of plastic weighted down with a brick, a bit of enviromesh tied on like a jam-pot cover and nothing stays put for more than a day or two. The branches idea sounds good, I'll give it a go when I'm up there tomorrow.

[Sue]

Bleumoon
If the branches don't work what about shaping some chicken wire over the top, won't stop bees but it would keep out baby birdies and other suicidal creatures.
Sue

[jeannine]

Chicken wire is also useful for creating an escape route from any open water. I once had a half-barrel water feature and found a drowned baby hedgehog that had somehow managed to climb in but couldn't get out.

I was gutted.

On the bee front, what about popping a floating plant in the butts like water lettuce? (sadly I don't think it's edible)...

[fiveravens]

Put a piece of broken polystyrene in the water. It'll float on top and any bees falling into the water will climb onto it, dry out and fly away.

[thyme]

This might sound really odd but it might work. If you cut a circle or maybe a square of net out of an old curtain, the 'diameter' needs to be quite a bit bigger than the top of the water butt, so that it overhangs. Then to weight it down, use stones by tying a knot near the edges and placing a stone in it or put the net over and hold it in place with a piece of strong elastic knotted into a circle. Is there a prize for the most crazy idea ?