Bee Hotels

Emm-in-a-pickle

Its certainly worth a try!

Emm-in-a-pickle

Just a `bump` for this thread - update.
My 2 Aldi bee-hotels have been very busy and are now almost full, most of the tubes are blocked up with the little mud-pasties where the egg-laying is completed. Present activity on these 2 is fascinating as you can see the last few holes being blocked by the bees. (Mason bees)
Most interesting thing I`ve observed is that a couple of the larger bore cane tubes seem to have been used by more than one bee at a time, seems they are happy to share the space! (These are the last ones now being finished off).
The old log has a few blocked holes, but still some `vacancies`, and the new one I put up this year is being visited but no holes blocked yet.

We have spent happy hours just sitting on the decking close by watching them. We have also had the occasional bee wander in through open windows, but soon found their own way out again and gone about their business.
My ONLY concern - we`ve not seen any Leaf-Cutter Bees yet, but by the time they appear there may not be any `vacancies`!!

forgotmyname

I didnt think they would be filling them this early.

Damn. I have only just started building mine. Am i too late?

Emm-in-a-pickle

Not too late, Forgotmyname - there are still Mason bees working on my newest one, and that`s far from full yet. If all the Mason bees have finished nesting before your bee house is ready you might get the leafcutters, as they seem to show up next.
And if you still haven`t finished making it by then, it`s not too late, i`s just early for next year!

kmmr

How fun! Can I do this in a little garden in London?

Is this the one you are talking about on Amazon?

BeeHotel

Or should I splash out the extra few quid for this one.
BetterBeeHotel

I have a sunny wall, but it's just a wooden fence along a row of gardens, so not particularly protected or anything. Hopefully that's ok?

Emm-in-a-pickle

Hi kmmr - I`d go for the other £5.99 one, the one shaped like a house - because it`s a bit deeper than the triangle one, like the Aldi ones I have that have been so successful.
They fill the little tubes up right to the end, so I reckon they (Mason bees, at least) must need that depth.
As long as they are south facing (max sunshine) they should be fine. Even in London!
Townie bees need homes as well! Good luck.

kmmr

Ordered. Amazon really makes it too easy to spend money... I think that took about 4 clicks!

peachyprice

I want one! I love bees to bits, off to look for a bee hotel now :j

kmmr

Hi,

So I have my lovely little house, but with no action yet. It's only been a few days. But is there anything I can do to encourage them? Food/mud or anything?

It's only been up since Sunday, so I suppose the weather isn't helping.

One thing, where I have hung it there is a hanging basket about 10-15 cm in front on the top half of the house. Is that a big problem? It's just so much easier to use the strut that the hanging basket is already using.

blossom30

Hi my bee hotel is occupied by spiders! I keep breaking their webs but they always come back. On the subject of bees Ive found the ones in my garden are very dozy they just want to lie on the ground I feel there is something that is interfering with nature. I hope it sorts itself out soon .shrewdal