Evening all

Popped down the plot this evening to empty one compost bin into another, I could see something had made little burrows, thought it may be my compost slow worm, however after I had forked a few forkfulls I heard the buzzing and felt the vibration through the fork - I must have spiked the main part of the nest I looked and could see bees - panicked (the polite version) threw the forkfull in the compost had another look at the exposed heap - saw at least 15 uppity honey bees crawling around and got the hell out of the way

Question is - will they go away I have read conflicting reports on t'internet some say they will all die off anytime soon others say they are hunkering down for the winter and now they have chosen my heap I am stuck with them.

I certainly don't want to harm them(any more than I have) but I don't particularly want them either lurking in my compost heap - honey bees are in short supply at the moment so I want to protect them but I don't want them popping up when I least expect it.

What's a girl to do

leave them be Make compost elsewhere for the time being. Your compo will be all the better for cooking a bit longer. They'll go when they're ready. Like you say, we need all the honey bees we can get and they are very useful on the plot

Buy, or ask for Christmas, for a bee nest. I have one and it's in use. I put some pics on here a while ago to show the bee filling up the chambers and sealing them up with leaves etc. Fascinating to watch

the bees nest idea sounds good there is an elder flower tree a few feet from the compost bin perhaps I could put it there - where did you get it from ?

watcha bob!
you can easily make them out of old garden canes and such.
there are lots of plans on google and on the bbc website (springwatch or gardening pages)

The bees nests are designed for solitary bees though - not social bees like honey bees. What ya really need is a hive, get them to move in there and then you will have honey next year.

Oh, and it may be worthwhile having a chat with Robert Brenchly over yonder - the font of all things beeish.

yeah you need both

I have loved watching my bee nest. Keeping a beady eye on it to see what emerges The bee was using a clump of clover in the grass by the pond. I wouldn't let Wardy mow it as it was food for the bee and close by so she only had a short nip to and fro

Mine was a pressie from my niece but like Tara says it would be a good project for the family to make one. You use common or garden canes (the big uns) Some are bog standard while others are encased in terracotta etc. Do have a look and be inspired

Meanwhile leave the bees be

On the subject of bees, this article in the Grauniad today. imidacloprid is the active ingredient in Provado...

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moonbells