10 Things You Can Do To Help Save The Bees

[MrsC]

Hi,

Great thread

Can I just direct people to a really good wildlife gardening website which has loads of information about bumblebees and suitable flowers for them.

Its Gardens for Wildlife : Notes from a London Wildlife Garden and check out the factsheets

Thanks, just looked at it, good info on it

[madmum23]

Great info. It's great to know that so many other people are concerned about the plight of the bee.

I joined my local beekeeping association last year and they are wonderful creatures to watch. I will be asking my allotment association ( of which I joined in March 2009) whether they would allow me to keep a beehive on site. My plot is situated in a sunny corner close to hedging and trees. If not, I have told my husband that it will have to bee at the end of the garden, much to his concern. We shall see. I have wondered whether I could have a beehive on the flat roof of my ground floor extension at the rear of the house. We are south facing so I wonder if it would be too hot or too exposed? Any ideas?

[beesontoast]

I have wondered whether I could have a beehive on the flat roof of my ground floor extension at the rear of the house. We are south facing so I wonder if it would be too hot or too exposed? Any ideas?

When considering a location for a beehive, it helps to think like a bee. Their natural home is a hollow tree, generally deciduous, so in the summer they will have some shade from the sun, while in winter they get the maximum benefit of any sun available.

Bees like to regulate their own hive temperature, and a poorly insulated, unshaded, thin-walled National or similar will overheat in mid summer and cause them distress. I use 3/4"-1" thick timber for my top bar hives and ensure that they are not in full sun all day.

Bees make better neighbours than many people do: they don't throw noisy parties, they are very clean and don't leave litter, and only get annoyed when someone interferes with them clumsily.

[madmum23]

Thanks Beesontoast. I think bees make better neighbours, as well as producing one of the most delicious natural products ever known to man. Mmmmm honey on fresh bread. I am hoping to have a hive on my allotment and think it would be too hot on the roof.