Get a grip woman!

edinburgher

@Suffolk_lass - we have tree? Bees in the loft or soffit. Have tried contacting a local beekeeping page on FB, but their advice is just "leave 'til autumn" - not much use when builders start in 5 weeks! Any ideas to move them on? One local pest control firm offers non-lethal removal if possible, is this my best bet?

LadyGnome

@edinburgher I would go with the pest control firm.  If you have an established colony they won't leave the brood and stores voluntarily, that's why the beekeeping soc are saying leave until autumn because they won't have brood and the cold will have reduced the numbers.  Depending on the type of bees a colony could be from 100s to 1000s and you don't need to upset too many of them before you have a problem.  You need proper protective gear and something to put the bees and comb in when you cut it out.  I wouldn't fancy being in an enclosed loft with bees without the proper gear (and we have several hives so I am used to handling them). One of the issues is that once you or your clothes get stung the pheromones from the sting mark you out as a threat so other bees join in (beekeepers get around this by using the smoker to smoke the area that has been stung if they notice it).

I wouldn't try to do it yourself.  

Suffolk_lass

So tree bees are a type of bumble bee and they are suggesting they stay until autumn because the queen will produce a bunch of princesses in July and once mated they leave the nest and find somewhere to hibernate. 

There are two reasons the swarm collection beekeepers won't help.
1 is they collect only honeybees normally
2 they don't like "cut-outs (ie removing part of the structure to access the nest). 
The nests are not big (typically about fist size) and would be straightforward to remove wearing nitrile gloves at dusk. I do understand you might not want to do this yourself. Unless there is a local beek willing to collect and rehome them you are looking at a pest company. Before that it is worth phoning both Glasgow Uni beekeepers association and Glasgow and District beekeepers association. Both have websites and probably a swarm coordinator (our Secretary) who may know of a member willing to help/remove/provide a home. We have at least three in our association.
Maybe speak to your builder about removing them together. A bird box in a tree would suit them and bumblebee conservation.org may be able to advise re making it attractive so they stay in their new place. Here's a link to the conservation trust. They recommend a mile away at least.
I hope this helps a bit

Suffolk_lass

Humdinger1 said:

That rug really suits him...and he knows it xx

He got me up at 04.15 this morning, barking at the cat, who wanted to look out of the kitchen window. After a quick toilet trip he would not settle so I hunkered down on the sofa under a blanket with him beside me. Up at 07.00 (a lie-in for me!) I fed him and the cat and he took himself off to that rug. I bought two from JL (synthetic "sheepskins" that can be cleaned - supposedly dry-cleaned but they have both been in my washing machine several times after accidents! It is the small oil heater he likes, it is on low and is an adequate substitute for the aga (which we switched off immediately after Easter, for the summer) in his view, but he recognises the rug as "his".

Sadly "my" sheepskin, real, a beautiful mink colour and double sized, has been moved upstairs as he thought it made a lovely place to wee! Hopefully it will make it back downstairs as it sits in front of the wood-burner and looks lovely

Suffolk_lass

I forgot to mention, I had a call from an estate agent yesterday, asking if we were buying or selling still (a quick think back and we registered with them 9 years ago. GDPR anyone?) anyway he was pressing us to put house on market now as the market is searingly hot. Not yet - I suggested he call me in October

edinburgher

@LadyGnome @Suffolk_lass - thanks both, I've emailed the two suggested organisations and have also asked whether they know of any pest control firms with a good reputation for live removal of nests should they be unable to suggest a beekeeper who can help.

I've also started seeking quotes to replace our knackered soffits and fascias.

foxgloves

We quite regularly get estate agent cards through our door, @Suffolk_lass, encouraging us to book a valuation as they apparently have more people wanting to buy in our village than available houses. It's a fairly modest village - the older original end has higher house prices because many of them are period properties, but it is right next to the river (occasionally part of it is IN the river during flooding season) so the walks are nice. We live in the cheaper end - mostly 1930s houses with long gardens. We were getting these cards through the door before all our renovation works started, so if it was 'wanted' then, when the front drive was such an eyesore, it should be more desirable now that it has a lot more 'kerb appeal'. Plan A is to put it on the market when Mr F retires (a good few years yet) & to relocate to a different region......which may be not far from your neck of the woods if your user-name reflects your place of abode. Surprising that the estate agent kept you on file for 9 years though! I suppose they are well aware that they won't make any money unless people want to sell their houses & demand is still apparently outstripping supply. I always get excited about moving house, but it is a lot of work when the time comes.
F

Suffolk_lass

It's our Son's place that we would be selling, and buying. Somewhere with a front garden or drive (garage even) so that he can charge an electric car in due course. And with a second living space so that he and his lodger don't have to agree what they are doing, or sit in their bedroom. We are not currently planning to move ourselves.

boxofpaws

Glad you decided to stay 

Suffolk_lass

So, yesterday was local farmers show day and the bee association had a stand with an observation hive, a hive to look through and some products to try and to sell. I offered to cover for a volunteer who could no longer help and so I did the afternoon shift. Although it is listed as running until 6pm it was so quiet by 4.30pm that we packed up and I pottered back to be collected by DH from the back of the Coop.

My back was really struggling last night and is rather sore this morning. I fancy I will spend much time sitting, weeding today, perched on the little stack of four plastic stools (that doubled as table and chairs for DS when he was little) that we have kept (he will be 30 in less than two weeks time.