Bumblebees

[Doris_Pinks]

Anyone else seen them? I was dive bombed by one last week. It was heading for my clematis "freckles"!

[Carrie]

I had three sniffing around my winter honeysuckle 3 weeks ago - if you go to www.bbc.co.uk/springwatch ( I hope that's the right adress) you can register your first sighting of bumble bees ladybirds etc - they are building up a nationwide map to check the progress of of global warming.

[Doris_Pinks]

Cool Carrie, will go there now! Thanks for that   DP

Fascinating site BTW! was worth a look!

[Garden Manager]

Bumble bees around our way sem to keep going for most of the winter, only going into hiding when it gets colder.

When i see one out on a winters day i have to ask it what its doing out and about at this time of year.

[gavin]

Honeybees were out 10 days ago here in Leeds. 

Lots of info on bumble bees here though http://www.bumblebee.org/ - the things people make websites about!

All best - Gavin

[Apple Dumpling]

Have registered my frogspawn and bumblebee sightings on springwatch.

[Debs]

Nope, none in the North East - at least none in my garden

Debs

[Georgie]

I have spotted quite a few over the last couple of weeks here in London.  For those of you who haven't, here's a pic I took of one last year.   

G xx

[Val]

 ;DHaven't even seen people never mind bees. I'm beginning to hate this snow.

[Lily]

I saw a Bumble Bee a few weeks ago.  It was nestling on the stamens of a Crocus Flower and looked intoxicated by the pollen.  .  I haven't seen one since.  

Last year we had a nest of Bumble Bees in the compost bin, they weren't very friendly and I had to wait until they left before I could use the compost

Lily

[Georgie]

How unlucky to get a nest in your compost bin. 

I can't get out in the garden to see if there are any fury friends around today - it's far too cold and wet.   

So here's a hovver fly to remind us all of warmer days to come.  :0

G xx

[Dirkdigger]

Recorded my first ladybird on springwatch, seen last week.

[Heldi]

I saw a whopper of a bumble bee a few weeks ago,sat in amongst a flowering heather.

[dibberxxx]

thanks for the website i recorded my frog spawn on springwatch very interesting site

[Rose.mary]

A while back I mentioned bumblebees on this forum and asked if anybody knew how to make a nest for them. I did not get any replies so I have found out from another source,  and I have just made my first nest. It is very simple. All you need is a large plastic plant pot, chicken wire, and hay. Just line pot with chicken wire, fill loosely with hay and put a lid made of chicken wire over the top. Place under a hedge or cover with soil,  facing south and hopefully you should get residents. Bumblebees do not hurt you if you leave them alone and I believe they are getting rare.
I just hope I am not too late.
Rosemary