Topic: Bumble Bees

[Ophi]

I have just been reading a sale item in the online Organic Gardening Shop for a colony of Bumble Bees.  I do not have a great understanding of bees but am always pleased to welcome the first nice big bee to my garden as I presume that is the queen just waking up.  I am not thinking of doing so but as a colony is so available for purchase what happens to your local bees when you introduce a new colony?

[star]

I don't know the answer to that Ophi, but I do know you can make a Bumble Bee 'house'. Have a look on Google you may find instructions on how to make one....or a book from the library.

I found two huge Bumbles down between my window box and the plastic liner last year. I disturbed the poor things when I emptied the window boxes....... :-[

[Flighty]

You may find the answer on this site -

 http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/

[star]

That is a great site Flighty ;D

Ophi! I'll race you to the shed for a flowerpot! ;D ;D

[Ophi]

That is a good site thank you Flighty.

The bee colonies for sale must be for areas that have lost their bees.

I will stick to providing flowers for the bees I have and have a race with Star for the extra flowerpots  ;)

[goodlife]

It is not adviseable to buy bumblebee colonies for domestic use. Although the same species do exist in wild..the bumbles that are sold are really for commecial use (although sold for domestic as well)for pollination purposes in GH and they will not be released outside by commercial bee users.
Bumblebee trust don't recommend to have these  package bees to be released into wild, but instead encourage public to provide more habitat for our natives.
I cannot remember the 'official' reason for it...but the reason for discouragement with these 'bought bees' has something to do with the 'strain' of the bees and not wanting them to 'pollute' our native stock.

[Robert_Brenchley]

They use non-native species.

[antipodes]

Great site there. I am pleased that I have many things in my allotment that can help attract bumble bees (I usually see a few around the place), like the soft fruit flowers, rosemary, sage, hollyhocks, marigolds, viper's bugloss, and this year I am going to sow St John's Wort too, for herbal tea.

[jimtheworzel]

http://www.chesneybeeproject.blogspot.co.uk/
this blog was written by a fellow plotter