| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| lassemista |
swarms of beesWhen I was out walking the dogs this afternoon I saw 2 swarms of bees hanging from a beech tree. I didn't go too close with 6 dogs but one was about the size of a rugby ball the other about half that size. The tree is next to a hard track currently being used by the forestry commission to remove logs, and I would say the swarms were at risk of being knocked by the lorries in the morning.Being aware of the problems bees are facing at the moment is there anyone who should know? Would local beekeepers be able to collect the bees if they wanted? Anyone want directions? IP28 ish. Andrea. |
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| sean |
The local branches of the BBKA are listed here.
If you contact your nearest one they should have a swarm person who'll come out. |
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| Jamanda |
Please do contact your local BKA. They will die is no-one collects them 
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| TheGrange |
oh thats such a shame, being a would be beekeeper for only the want of the darn bee's | ||||
| lassemista |
Crumbs! I didn't realise it was that radical. OH says he knows someone through Suffolk Organic Gardeners, but he has just gone to take DD's friend home. How urgent is it? Do they stay in the same place? How do wild bees survive then?
A |
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| lassemista |
Yes - a bit far to come from the Peak District. And these would be softy Southern bees 
A |
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| RichardW |
Will they (IE is it 100% that they will)? I would have thought they would have found a suitable site to set up home without "our" version of "help". Richard PS I so wish they were closer |
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| ksia |
If someone could issue 'em all with passports ..... | ||||
| alice |
'A swarm in May is worth a load of hay' 
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| Tavascarow |
They usually scout a new home before swarming & tend to hang in a branch for anything from a few minutes to a few hours. Sometimes they will swarm without having a new home to go to & then they can hang for up to a week whilst scout bees search out a new abode. The longer they stay there the more tetchy they will become. I'm sure there are feral colonies thatr are surviving so these could be one such.
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| TheGrange |
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| lassemista |
'A swarm in May is worth a load of hay'
I was trying to remember that rhyme - I assume that means it is good. |
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| alice |
I believe so.
Apparently.... 'A swarm in May is worth a load of hay A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon A swarm in July isn't worth a fly' |
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| lottie |
The ones Mary Jane has at the university came from a swarm like this--- and they seem to be surviving without human intervention---any beekeeper would be glad to have them---but before the present disease problems swarms that got away or initial feral swarms did just fine---it's possible that the very few swarms that manage to survive after "going wild" might be the more resistant bees of the future as they have survived without intervention----at least I live in hope. |
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| lassemista |
Well after rather a lot of phone calls, there is now a chap going hopefully to collect them tomorrow. He is supposed to let me know what happens. I feel strangely responsible for their wellbeing 
Thanks for the advice folks, Andrea. |
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| Woodburner |
A friend of mine has a feral swarm in her garden, it had settled before she noticed it, and as it was in a very difficult position to retrieve, she left it. It has survived at least one winter, and seems to be attracting swarms to her garden. The latest one she was able to retrieve, and it seems to be settling nicely.
A swarm settling over the weekend as you describe, could be at risk of being disturbed when the heavy traffic resumes, and anyway any bee-keeper able to retrieve it would be very grateful for the tip off. The price of colonies has gone through the roof lately on account of the massive die offs over the last few years. |