Where do your bees live?

Loveinapril

I am hoping to get a hive in the coming weeks and am doing a course. The tutor mentioned that it was a bad idea to keep them in your garden. That was my intention! There is a bit of wasteland about 150ft from the back door. This overgrown space is at the very end of the garden behind a 5ft gate and a big brick shed. It is about 18ft by 20ft. There are no neighbours at the back as the house is on a hill. Would this work?

I am curious to know where others keep their bees if it is not at home.

Effects

It all depends on the size of your garden. That's where I used to keep mine. I loved having them close.

Loveinapril

Does my garden set up sound okay to you?

Effects

I thought you were talking about wasteland that didn't belong to you!
That area sounds perfect for bees. Where about are you based?
Get your hive ready anyway. As usual, it might take time until there are bees available that you can buy.

Loveinapril

Effects wrote: »

I thought you were talking about wasteland that didn't belong to you!
That area sounds perfect for bees. Where about are you based?
Get your hive ready anyway. As usual, it might take time until there are bees available that you can buy.

I did think wasteland might be the wrong word. It's in Howth, Co Dublin. The small patch has been neglected as it is behind a big shed so is overgrown with bushes and stuff. It has plenty of shelter due to the height of the bushes and the back of the shed so that seemed perfect, but the tutor just threw me off by saying not to have them in your garden.

Effects

Where about are you doing your course? Did you explain to the tutor exactly what the location was like? Maybe they were thinking it was a small back garden with close neighbours.
I used to keep mine in my garden in Clontarf. No problems except for the odd swarm into a neighbours garden. When that happened I'd get a helpful call and be able to get them back.
I might be moving a few hives to Howth this year too. Just down the road from the Summit.

Loveinapril

Is someone allowing you to use their land or how does that work? I never said anything as it was in front of the class but will say it next week. I might take some pictures of the space. He just seemed so definite about it. The course is in Portmarnock with Fingal beekeepers.

Effects

Ah, I see. He probably is thinking of a small back garden in that case. I was originally going to do my course with Fingal but switched to County Dublin Beekeepers after Fingal said they were full. To be honest, the tutor has no place saying it's not suitable if he doesn't know the space.

I've a friend from Howth who's going to let me use some land at the back of his Mother's house.

spudgobbler

Hi
Just have a question about the location of a hive. I'm out the country here in Galway about a mile from a town. I live on an acre site so plenty of room but my wife still wanted the hive well away from the garden so the farmer behind me had no probs with me using his land. I would like to have my second hive/nuc closer. There is an acre between me and my neighbour he has great shelter on his side. I do own the land but I'm afraid of problems that may arise if I put them out there. I know I should ask him but asking someone if I can place 8000 bees beside his house I don't think will go down well.
Just wondering if anyone has a similar situation, would they even be noticed?

Hope that makes sense

Stephen

Effects

It's your land. Put the bees on it. How close to his house will they be? I'm presuming you are placing them along the hedge that borders both properties?

spudgobbler

Thanks for reply.
Yes it will be among high hedging and an ash tree, it will be about 20 metres from his house and about ten metres from a patio area they have. That's keeping it tight to the boundary I can go another few metres away but it will be dragging them out of the sheltered spot.
Ah I just want to keep the peace he has young kids as do I.

Effects

I've never has issues with neighbours and I'm in a city, with the neighbours garden 5 metres away. Perhaps plant a windbreaker to offer more shelter?