i just got my allotment on sunday yeah!!!!
anyway went today for a good look around and noticed that there were a lot of bees around the compost heap, i have a feeling that there may be a nest in the heap but am too scared to look as i am allergic to bee stings :'( ( i have to use an adrenaline pen if i get stung) what is the best plan? leave the heap until the autumn and they all die off or try and kill them?
thanks
:)hello, I would love a bees nest in one of my compost bins, I also am allergic to bee stings ( and wasp stings come to think of it ) :P, but you will be fine they won't sting you, I pick them up, just make another compost bin and leave the nest (if you have one ) alone. I spent a day in A&E with a wasp sting, and I'm still here ;D but please don't kill them,they pollinate your plants ;)/regards shades x
the only plants on the plot are weeds so not too bothered about pollination. but i need to get in the heap and also next to it as there are 8 foot high nettles that i want to clear this week.
put the nettles in the compost heap ;) I have 7 compost bins all over the plot, and believe me you and your neighbouring plot holders will be bothered about pollination when none of your plants set fruit,you need to encourage bees in to your plot :)/shades x
you promise i wont get stung?!? as i really don't want to inject myself as i am six and a half months pregnant at the mo, do you know any safe repellants to use in pregnancy that will keep them away from me? also can i have sone valium to stop me panicing!! (only joking!!),
thanks guys
as a beekeeper (who is also allergic) please don't harm them but you also have to protect yourself as well - ask around to see if any local bee keeper will handle them or get the usual kit of clothes to keep yourself safe, or get the council round (not to kill them but they should have a list of bee keepers who will come and take them)
if you are allergic and pregnant, stay away - better to be safe than sorry for all concerned
Contact Mrs M Bohme, 54 Dunster Drive, Flixton, Manchester, M31 3WR, 0161 747 7292; she's the contact for the local beekeepers. It's probably either bumblebees or wasps; I hope I'm not insulting you, but most people don't know the difference! They won't bother you if you don't bother them.
How can people not know the difference between Bees and Wasps.. totally different body structure.. now Wasps and Hoverflies can be confusing!
:-\
You really don't want to risk anything Gingerninja...
:)
Bumble bees seem to love compost heaps - they nest in holes in the ground "in the wild".
I had the same problem a few years ago, but the nest bordered a public footpath & the council had a complaintso they came & destroyed it. I did try and find some bee keepers to come & help, buy they weren't interested as they weren't honey bees.
I love bumble bees and regularly have them on my clothes when I'm working in the garden. they are very passive and I believe if you have a positive attitude towards them, they will not harm you. I don't know if they can sense fear or aggression like mammals do, but I've never had any problems & have regularly gently moved them off my clothes and onto a plant because I want to go indoors.
Perhaps a bit of live & let live and let them have a small corner of your allotment.
Cheers.
I don't know how people can get confused either, but bees are constantly blamed for wasp stings, adding to the bad press they get these days.
they are deff bees, as i have a severe allergy believe me i know the differerence!!!
we are going to leave them alone and wait till they die off in the autumn, the compost heap is full anyway so we are just going to build another one near to it.
thanks for the advice guys but we think this is the best idea all round.
An ideal compromise... we have some solitarys in a wall under the toilet block live and let live...
;D