help with bumblebees

[witchyjojo]

hi, i hav a bumble bee nest where i want to put a wendy house i saved up 4 five yrs for. it is in the kids play area, and being a childminder as well as mum, ia am destperate to get rid of it sumhow...the only place the little house can go is rite where the nest is...has anybody got any ideas? pleeeeeeeese

[Za]

Hiya, you sound like you are pretty desperate to get rid of the bees,the only suggestion I could give would be to try your local council pest control service, they might be able to help.
Good luck.
Za

[eucera]

Originally Posted by witchyjojo

hi, i hav a bumble bee nest where i want to put a wendy house i saved up 4 five yrs for. it is in the kids play area, and being a childminder as well as mum, ia am destperate to get rid of it sumhow...the only place the little house can go is rite where the nest is...has anybody got any ideas? pleeeeeeeese

Unfortunately, this is a decision you are going to have to make, based on your perceived priorities. A classic dilemma

[Purplepixii]

As said before you could try contacting a local bee-keeper (try yellow pages or your local police force may have details - ours has).

Other than that you will have to contact the local council but be aware that some species are protected and before any treatment, careful identification must be carried out.

As I understand it (I might be wrong tho), bees use a nest once then make a new one the following season. I dont know how much longer bees will be around this year but perhaps you could wait a while until they move on?

Good luck
Purplepixii

[eucera]

Originally Posted by Purplepixii

As said before you could try contacting a local bee-keeper (try yellow pages or your local police force may have details - ours has).

Other than that you will have to contact the local council but be aware that some species are protected and before any treatment, careful identification must be carried out.

As I understand it (I might be wrong tho), bees use a nest once then make a new one the following season. I dont know how much longer bees will be around this year but perhaps you could wait a while until they move on?

Good luck
Purplepixii

a) Local beekeepes are unlikely to be very particularly interested in anything other than Honey bees. As far as the Police Force are concerned, I think our Wiltshire Constabulary have more pressing things to deal with than bumblebee nests.

b) Local councils are generally unwilling to destroy bumble nests

c) NO bee species is protected by law in UK

As is stated above, Bumblebees use the nest just once, and the season (for most species) is drawing to a close. By early-mid Autumn all of should be completed. However, keep the nest under observation to check on activity

[demicav]

The council may not move it but you have the option of paying for it's removal. You can look in Yellow pages or your local newspaper. This seems a bit of a shame though considering we're nearing the end of what was supposed to be Summer and the nest itself will be coming to an end naturally.
If it was me I would leave it now and let nature do it's own thing unless there was an immediate danger to someone. Next year it won't be used again.
It's your choice though, whatever happens, it will all work out in the end.

[demicav]

Here is an interesting link about bumblebees.

http://hercules.users.netlink.co.uk/Bee.html

[witchyjojo]

thank u to everyone who replied to my bee prob... i hav given up gracefully.. n will wait till they leave. kids r v dissappointed not to hav their play area or new house 4 rest of summer hols, but are watching the nest with interest from a distance, my 6 yr old is going to name her house.. BUMBLE BEE COTTAGE!!!!!!!!!

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by witchyjojo

thank u to everyone who replied to my bee prob... i hav given up gracefully.. n will wait till they leave. kids r v dissappointed not to hav their play area or new house 4 rest of summer hols, but are watching the nest with interest from a distance, my 6 yr old is going to name her house.. BUMBLE BEE COTTAGE!!!!!!!!!

Wonderful compromise + a great way to teach the kids respect + interest in wildlife. Well done!

[Purplepixii]

Originally Posted by eucera

a) Local beekeepes are unlikely to be very particularly interested in anything other than Honey bees. As far as the Police Force are concerned, I think our Wiltshire Constabulary have more pressing things to deal with than bumblebee nests.

Oh I don't doubt the Police have more pressing things to deal with - I work for Hampshire Police Because I work there I happen to know that we have advice & contact details for people who call up regarding bees, and believe me - we get the calls