bees in the back garden

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bees in the back garden

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rhyddid

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 228

Posted: Sun May 18, 08 8:52 pm Post subject: bees in the back garden
How much space does one require for a bee hive ? I'm thinking of places to keep a hive, but am not sure what type of space requirements are in order, eg. for a hive in the back garden.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sun May 18, 08 9:04 pm Post subject: Re: bees in the back garden

rhyddid wrote:

How much space does one require for a bee hive ?

I'm thinking of places to keep a hive, but am not sure what type of space requirements are in order, eg. for a hive in the back garden.

Very little. They need to be not facing due north, and if put with the front of the hive facing a hedge or wall (so they have room to fly up at an angle of less than 45 degrees) they will shoot in and out of the hive above everyone's heads.

Well that's the theory. The chap running my course says he had six in a tiny terraced house garden and his neighbours never knew.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sun May 18, 08 9:12 pm Post subject:
He was living next door to the North Devon Home for the Blind and Deaf....

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Sun May 18, 08 9:50 pm Post subject:
We had hives in a very small garden before we moved here---the important thing is to make sure any fence the hive entrance is facing is high enough to take them well over passers by/neighbours heads---we added a 2 foot trellis to our fence in front of the hives and never had a problem---a jar of honey for your near neighbours every year is a good idea as well

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Sun May 18, 08 10:16 pm Post subject:

We had issues last year with four hives at the top of our large-ish, sloping garden - but, I didn't have fencing in front of them to get them up and over our heads. I think it partly depends on the temperament of the bees; one of our hives had quite a severe 'following' trait and it made things rather uncomfortable.

However, I do think we were perhaps a bit unlucky - I have a friend who keeps two hives in a small suburban garden in London and doesn't have any problems.

Ours have now gone to live on the edge of Mochyn's orchard and I am much happier - particularly since Leo is about to start toddling and doesn't yet understand 'no'!

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Sun May 18, 08 10:28 pm Post subject:

My brothers friend has hives in a back garden in Battersea with no problems---but some people go hysterical at the mention of bees---and in fairness they may be allergic---I kept my neighbours in the loop where we lived before--- checked folk were alright and they were very supportive and interested and keen to get honey---in fact they bought alot more after their free jars---float the idea and see is worth trying.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Sun May 18, 08 10:37 pm Post subject:

The chap we got ours from had to get rid of them because his neighbour was *hysterical* about the idea of four hives a hundred yards from their house. Completely phobic.

TBH, one of the reasons we've moved ours is to give me more room for the poultry - they need looking after twice a day, the bees twice a month

. It was nice having them there - but because of the topography, the only way they could fly out was down over the rest of the garden. A couple of times they got stuck in my hair (and Pookie's, and Judiths!) and it got a bit tiresome.

Oh, and then they swarmed. Five times. And stung the cat ...

This all sounds very negative Rhyddid, and I don't mean it to. But I guess, think it through before you decide. And communicate with your neighbours, as Lottie says. The chap we got ours from decided it wasn't worth a neighbour-feud. But I don't know whether he checked in with them before he moved the hives in.

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Mon May 19, 08 7:45 am Post subject:

I have bees at the bottom of my garden - I've recently gone from 1 hive to 2 hives (and trying to find a space to squeeze in a 3rd!) - but I'm very lucky and have fantastic neighbours - I agree with the communication thing though and also remember that you need to be able to get around the back of them comfortably to work

This is us hiving our nucleus last year - you can see our neighbour leaning over his fence watching us! I did warn him that was maybe not such a good idea

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