Operation Bumblebee

[Colin Miles]

I am sure KG readers will be interested in the scheme whereby Farmers are now being paid through a Countryside Stewardship scheme to sow a mix of seeds, designed by the agribusiness company Syngenta, that will specially attract Bumblebees on their field margins. This is called Operation Bumblebee.

Now how about KG doing an offer on Bumblebee Nest boxes?

To read more

http://www.opinion.telegraph.co.uk/news ... xhome.html

[fen not fen]

and a related feature for the skinflints amongst us on how to make one out of a toilet roll core and some sticjy back plastic

[Johnboy]

Hi Colin and Fen,
I find it strange that I have quite a large BB population on my plot and they all nest in the ground, without exception, so where do the BB boxes come in?
Fen I do not quite get the drift of your posting perhaps you would care to elaborate.

[Chantal]

She's saying she's too cheap to buy a bumble bee box and wants to make one, like on Blue Peter.

[Johnboy]

Hi Chantal,
Only comment. Mmmmmmmmmmm!

[Colin Miles]

I had actually just bought a bee-nesting box - not a bumblebee box. Curious to see exactly what it was, how it was supposed to work, etc. Yes - it does look as though anyone could make it, assuming bees aren't too fussy about the tubes being machined to an exact size and of uniform dimensions - and I can't imagine that this is how they find holes in nature!

So yes, maybe one can easily make these things? If not an offer then a KG article about how to make them?

[pigletwillie]

From a similar forum to this.

http://hometown.aol.com/beetools/bumble.htm

this gives plans for a bumblebee nest box so you can build your own.

[The Grock in the Frock]

and when you've made your blue peter bb box you all get a bp badge and a pair of vals knickers

[Colin Miles]

Thanks pigletwillie but I think definitely something for Blue Peter experts. So KG, how about an offer?

[richard p]

saw one flying this morning, how do they dodge the raindrops? or do they just get wet?