BeeNBees - excellent! Bug hotels can be bigger and more general of course but these really will help the solitary bees - let me know what visitors you get :) Best wishes, Joel
I’d already made a bug/bee hotel but didn’t have the depth you recommend. My holes were less than four inches deep but I’m pleased to say that some leaf cutter bees have laid their eggs in about four of the holes and another four have mud filled entrances. I have since done one to your instructions. Thank you. 👍
About 2 years ago my friend bought me a bee hotel for my birthday. It was a fiver from a supermarket. It's never been used - apart from a snail hiding under the eaves! I thought it was because it was situated in the wrong place, but seeing this video, I realise it's because of the hole sizes like you said. I'll have a go at making one. Thanks.
Hi Rose, it may still be useful for some creatures, but most insects like to be in the warmth and sunny areas, so do keep it and see what finds it eventually ;) If you go to a local timber merchant or diy store, usually family-run then they are really helpful at cutting the larger sizes of wood or sell you off-cuts that they would have no use for really, and they will be able to ensure that the wood they cut for you is treatment-free, and then the rest should be pretty easy :) Best wishes and let me know what turns up! Joel
I’m in the us and keep mason bees. We use tubes that can be cleaned to help rid the larvae and emerging bees from parasites-parasites that could clean out a population without intervention. If you drill a large enough hole these could be filled with removable tubes to be replaced each year.
Many thanks Joel. I was planning on putting an old fence post in the middle of a lawn are that I’ve let grow wild. Without the tips from this video I’d have just plonked it there without consideration for a ‘roof’ and different sizes for the holes. Cheers.
Love this video Joel 👌🏻 You’d be surprised how much good wood people dump into skips. Found loads whilst I used to walk my late dog. Keep up the good work Joel 😉
You're right George, skips can be an absolute treasure-trove :) Away tomorrow but I hope you enjoy the Jubilee festivities and have a good long weekend - catch up soon, best wishes - Joel
I have an old wooden deck that we are refurbishing and its shotgun holed with bee activity. I feel bad evicting them from my 'home' and am planning on building several of these to encourage them to move into it instead of my deck/posts/joists. Your video made it look so easy! I was way over thinking it. Thank you for the tips and advice! From 'across the pond' in Oregon USA. 🤗
How lovely to read this Eileen, so pleased you are thinking of these creatures during your refurb, not many do! I am so glad the video was helpful :) Welcome to the channel, we have a great community here, all like-minded and all wanting to make a difference. Enjoy the weekend, and best of luck with the project - Joel
Hi Joel, thanks for making this bee hotel video and really appreciate you taking the time to show what are the key points when making one as well. The more we do for these insects the better our ecosystems will be 😊
Hi there! So glad this was helpful to you, and you're right, they need all the help we can give them :) Hope you're having a good weekend, best wishes - Joel
Brilliant this Joel we keep and breed loads of Mason bees every year and have just got a bumble bees nest in the garden as well as some tree bumble bees nesting in one of our bird boxes 🐸💚🐸
Fantastic! So good to hear this, they're fascinating to watch aren't they and it's a brilliant feeling knowing that you've provided exactly what they need :) Best wishes - Joel
I knew that my bee hotel that I bought at a discount store wasn't right. My bee/insect hotel looks nice, but the canes are way to wide and the whole thing is to shallow. I regurly saw a bee squeezing themselves into the smallest holes, but yet not occupying it. Now I fully know why. I will definitely look into suitable wood for them. My husband has his own drill now, so it's a good project to learn how to use such machinery on my own, maybe with some guidance at first. It is so exciting to see all the active bees in my gardens and help their activity up by a few notches more👍🏻🐝
This is great Titia, definitely try making one and yes it will be good practice :) So glad to hear about the bee numbers growing in your garden too - well done. Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton sometimes I'm observing them and I notice the differences in some, but I have no clue which species they are. I saw a black red-tailed variety, but a lot smaller than the bumblebee size. I really need a comprehensive bee/bumblebee book/guide to indentify them. I already have one for birds and butterflies, which I regurly use.
I’ve done one a few years ago from a piece of and scrap wood and it’s so exciting watching the bees come and go. Something so simple to make and it helps out the bees. Another great video
Glad this was of help Mark :) Very simple but very effective and slightly more satisfying than the shop-bought varieties :) Hope you've had a good weekend so far, best wishes - Joel
Put up 4 different shop bought ones a month or so ago, and it only took a couple of weeks for the mason bees to start visiting. Will start making my own more elaborate ones in the future. It’s really satisfying watching them plug up the holes 👍🏻
Great! Have to agree that it's pretty mesmerising watching them construct these nests. These hotels are pretty simple to do and I hope it encourages more people to make them :) Hope you're having a good weekend, best wishes - Joel
Marvellous Joel very informative. I've made some bee hotels out of a fallen dead elm from Trailcam Wood that had been dead standing for a number of years with hole sizes that you suggest. I can see much activity around them as I type 😊. It is fascinating sitting near the boxes watching the comings and goings 👍😊
Hi David, if you can then do wait until as many holes are sealed as possible, and then move it once the bees have "finished" utilising it :) Will be in touch when I'm back from France - not long to wait now! Best wishes - Joel
That's a great idea that most people could do. Your mention of the Cuckoo had me wondering whether there had been any news on the bird you hand reared, I believe it was ringed. 👍
Hey Paul - my in-laws did hear a cuckoo, when they'd not previously, in the wooded area adjacent to their house, where he was released. That was last May but I was working about 200 miles away and couldn't get back to see if it was him. No news this year but Frank, the guy from the BTO, did position the ring so that if he was photographed it could be identified if someone had a detailed photo. No news yet though, but I do think of him a lot at this time of year. Best wishes - Joel
Brilliant Joel! So much helpful info here. I've got a few shop bought ones in the garden and have also made bee posts this year that free stand in the flower beds as a feature. Made a couple of mistakes though which I shall now rectify. Didn't put roofs on and used just one drill bit so all the holes are uniform sized. I shall rectify this tomorrow. It's information like this that makes a world of difference. Thank you! I have two bee nests underground this year in the edges of the lawns where I've let the buttercups grow which is I presume is because of leaving things wild. Great channel Joel so glad I found it. All the best.
Hello you! So glad this was of help, but don't make your existing bee posts redundant as one size will still please and no doubt be used :) You don't have to make all the sizes, I just wanted to show and relay the sizes that are used by the most solitary bees, even down to the very small ones we hardly notice - so glad you've got buttercups now in the lawn, I'd really love to come and visit your garden when I get a chance or am in your area - thanks so much for your support and encouragement, it does make a difference and I want to share as much as I can and encourage others, which you are clearly doing and that makes it all worthwhile. France soon, more videos and more to share, can't wait! Hoping to do some update posts while I'm out there to give everyone a taster before I'm back. Best wishes, as always - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton You'll always be welcome I make a great cuppa! Thanks for the info, maybe some more bee homes with different sizes will bee the way to go! Enjoy yourselves in France, a break from us will do you good haha!
That cuckoo video was the first one I watched!😊. So glad you made this. I hate seeing 'Bee' Hotel on products in shops when the holes are clearly not big enough, or too big; great for smaller bugs, yes, but not bees. I've had many bees visit this year already, and thanks to the Herb Robert that's taken over the garden😂 - as well as my usual Dandelions, lots of smaller bees too! This is a great little project that makes a huge difference, thanks!👌🏽. Now go on holiday and have a rest🍹😎.
So glad you enjoyed this - and great re the visitors to the Herb Robert and Dandelions. I leave early next week for France and am really looking forward to it, I won't be able to resist taking footage of what I see and will be able to share it with you all when I return :) Take good care, best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I wouldn't be able to resist getting footage and sharing either! I'm so looking forward to see what you discover - love SW France🙌🏽. Bon voyage and enjoyeee!🍷🦋.
Great video. I’m ruminating on huge bee hotels that would take lots of time and effort. This is probably a much better idea. A few small ones that I actually make is better than a giant one that remain on the drawboard for years. I’ll probably add some kind of protection against woodpeckers too 🙂
Great video Joel and a really simple and effective method of providing habitat. Out of all insects bees are my favourite. I once tried to talk my wife Zoe into letting me have a hive, (even though I don't like honey myself) Needless to say my request was turned down. Anyway, hope you are well Joel and sending all our best to you and yours 🙂
I hope you're "allowed" to put a few of these up, they'll be just as rewarding - I was reading that hive honeybees can have a rather detrimental effect on solitary bees as they will of course use a lot of nectar near to the hives, a fine balancing act of course :/ Off to France tomorrow, I hope you have a good long weekend and enjoy the festivities :) Best wishes to you all, Joel
It's really simple isn't it and I thought that this will allow most people to be able to make one pretty easily - and they do look good too :) Hope you're having a good weekend - best wishes as always - Joel
Doh 🤦♂️ I’ve got a few garden centre bee hotels dotted around the garden 😳 looks like I’m going to have a busy weekend making something a bit better. On a side note there was an amazing bit on springwatch about the Osmia bee which lays its eggs in a discarded snails shell 🐝 well worth watching.
They might not go to waste Mark, some insects will still find refuge there I am sure but you will notice the difference with the visitors to these solitary bee hotels - I haven't managed to watch Springwatch yet but I was reading that some of the leaf cutter bees use snail shells too :) Let me know what visitors you get! Best wishes, Joel
perfect, just the info i was looking for, however i'd be particularly interested in knowing the diameter desired by the patchwork leafcutter since there's at least 10 of them that utilise the DA roses in my front and back garden every year, i love watching them cut out the leaf, they work sooo fast, about 10 seconds and they're off again carrying their nest material.
Hi there - I would go up to 12mm with the drill bit and again as deep as you can but leaving an enclosed space, they will happily utilise this size :) So glad you get to see them doing this, it's pretty amazing - hope this helps, best wishes - Joel
Needed this advice after a leaf cutter bee used my hose gun last year and this year I have bees using the square metal framework on my garden bench, both situated in my greenhouse, so I guess they’re guaranteeing a dry winter!
Had to stick to using the watering can! Left a pile or two of cut grass on the borders to attract bumblebee’s and the blackbirds kept dismantling them. Then found they’d moved in to a pile of material I’d left to process, by the compost heap.
Really Impressed by that video Great 👍🏻 this is such an informative video I've never seen such a fantastic video 😊🌹 Thanks for sharing 👍🏻 Keep it up and keep making amazing 👏 videos like this one 💐🌹🇨🇦😊
Hi Joel, how did you drill the 2mm hole to 5 inches deep when the drill itself is only 3 inches long. 1/2 inch in the chuck only leaves 2 1/2 available ? If you clean the holes out from the front you could injure anything in the tunnel, surely best to unscrew the back and push the brush from back to front if you have drilled the holes all the way through, which you should have done. Use a countersink bit in the drill to de burr the entrance to the holes.
Hi Colin, the 2mm drill bit I showed in the video was to give people an idea of the size of hole required - I do stipulate that the holes be circa 15cm deep and for this you would of course need what I used, the extra-long straight shank auger wood bit which of course wasn't shown. I do make it clear that it is best to clean these in Spring when there are no larvae after they have over-wintered. Unless you have access to an endoscope (!) damage could be caused whatever direction the brush is pushed, so again it's best to ensure there is no mud/leaf visible in the holes and wait until Spring. Agree re the countersink drill bit, but again I make it clear re any burring and ensuring the holes are as smooth as possible - we know of course that in the "wild" they will use hollow twigs and abandoned nests of carpenter bees etc :) Best wishes, Joel
It’s just you don’t say use an auger bit in the video. Anyone making there own may struggle without the correct tools. Never seen a 2mm auger. Extra long twist drills are available. You may get earwigs, spiders and other insects that could be injured when brushing out from the front as they could squashed at the back of the tunnel.
@@colinjennings8778 I didn't show much of the drilling at all in the video, these are videos to help people, not workshops and my channel is to encourage others, not provide every detail for free in 25 mins ;) There's lots more I could have spoken about in the video but I also have a more than full-time job aside from the YT channel. It's not obligatory that anyone caters for all bee sizes of course but hopefully most will find the information sufficient for them to cater for most bee solitary bee species and make a difference. You need to look for the HSS straight shank auger, they do these up to at least 160mm long in the 2-5mm diameter if that helps :) Oh, and re spiders and other smaller insects, unless we all become Jain monks we're going to be damaging some life form or another just by being alive!
Ok mate, I’m not criticising, I think you and your team do a fantastic job. And you are an inspiration to us all trying to create wildlife habitats! Have a well deserved time in France.
@@colinjennings8778 Thanks Colin, appreciated - I do try to make as much time as possible to share everything that I hope people can implement easily, and see the rewards almost immediately. Off to France on Wednesday so lots to do yet but am really looking forward to the break and the diverse fauna and flora - will be sure to take footage so I can share it all with you when I return - best wishes, Joel
I can't see this being a problem at all, as long as they are secure of course and the hole isn't interrupted, as well as being the right depth and diameter :) Hope this helps, best wishes - Joel
Wow, great info which I had no idea about. Curious tho, what do you think about hung it so the holes were to the right or left. Asking because where I live the rain and wind come from the south, just thinking if the holes were on the side the rain wouldn't get in as easily.?
I've never thought about that aspect Wende, but I can't see there being a problem as long as it gets a lot of sun/warmth :) You could also increase the roof size I guess too - hope you're having a good weekend, best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I think I'll do both, a bit longer roof, and turn it so the rain isn't blown in, well if it could be anyway. I hope you're having a grand time in France, you lucky guys. My weekend has been beautiful.
@@itsmewende Not there yet Wende, glad in a way as there's so much still to do but I leave early on Weds 1st and am back around 10th I think, I really can't wait. Will be sure to film as much as I can so I've got lots to share with you all when I'm back. Great idea re doing both, let me know how you get on :) Look after yourself and the cat crew Wende, can't wait to catch up again soon - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Oh ok, thought you guys were already there, guess i wasn't paying attention if you mentioned the dates. Safe travels in that case, see ya in a few.
Perfect Timing!! I was just about to do research on what size to make the holes! I'm in Texas, and after watching your video, I'm surprised there are only 2 diameter sizes for Britain! I've been wondering just how many sizes would be best for bees in Texas? 2 doesn't seem like enough! But then I haven't done my research yet. One question- I'm going to be drilling holes into a 6 foot tall tree stump still standing, is it best to remove the bark first? I CAN do that, but would rather not have to...
Hi there - sorry if it wasn't clear but the holes range FROM 2mm to 10mm - with additional holes drilled at 4mm, 6mm and 8mm in between :) I don't think you'll have to remove the bark, which should be good news - hope this helps and let me know what visitors you get! Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton oh Thanks! Not removing the bark IS good news! And honestly, you probably were clear on those sizes. I'm sure it was my own early morning brain that wasn't clear! I'll watch again - AFTER coffee!
@@gardengatesopen Haha! Glad this has given you less work to do - it's late afternoon here and I could do with a coffee or two too! Hope you're having a good weekend, best wishes - Joel
Hey Nico! Great to hear from you :) Right now and of course earlier in the year - masonry bees will nest from Spring right through to Summer and each bee will utilise around 6 to 12 chambers for their eggs. You'll likely see solitary bees emerging during April and May - after which they will mate and the females will return to the hive and lay their own eggs to over-winter. So if you make one, ensure you're around in Spring to see the grateful inhabitants emerge as well as the grateful bees using them this summer :) Hope this helps and that you've had a good weekend - best wishes, Joel
Hi there Graham - so sorry for not getting back to you sooner, I've been away for 10 days in France and just trying to catch up with everyone now. Definitely planting pollinator plants nearby will encourage more bees and of course some wet/moist mud and sand will mean they find material quickly to be able to plug up the holes :) Apologies again for the delay, but I hope this is helpful - if you wanted any pollinator/wildflowers then you can find them at our shop online here and we're of course happy to advise before you purchase: www.wildyourgarden.com I hope this is helpful - best wishes, Joel
Question from someone just learning about providing nests for bees. I see where some sites sell cardboard tubes and mention how you can harvest the larva from the tubes. What happens to the larva in your bee house? and why would you want to harvest the larva?
For pest control. Drilled wooden blocks will be fine in season 1, but if the same block is left out for multiple seasons you’ve got a pollen mite and Houdini fly factory there, not a mason bee house. The reason being that they are impossible to clean. By all means replace it every year though.
Hi Joel, thanks again for another video! This one is off the topic of your video but I’m hoping you or someone in the comments can help. My mum and dad have bird boxes at their house and the passed 3 years blue tits have nested in one. Unfortunately every year we find chicks dead under the box, and to me they are removed from the nest by the adults as they are to young to climb out themselves. Is there a reason you would know off? Or what we can do to help prevent this? They have peace in the garden with no noise apart from the lawnmower but this doesn’t stop the adults flying in and out. Thanks in advance, greatly appreciated and enjoy your content! Ricky
Hi Ricky - do you see chicks successfully fledge from the nest each year or are they all "lost"? Unfortunately due to a lack of caterpillar "food" a lot of chicks can die through starvation, parents will try to feed live food where they can as it is the only source of moisture for the chicks. Sometimes an inexperienced mother can discard chicks that are not actually dead but if this has happened for 3 successive years it does seem odd. This is partly why blue tits in particular have such large broods (sometimes 10-12 eggs). There can be problems when one of the parents dies mid-way through rearing the chicks. The only other thing I can think of is if the box is facing south or west and is exposed to the sun all day then chicks can die of heat exhaustion. Sorry the answer is pretty vague but it's difficult without knowing the situation. I hope this helps a little, best wishes and thank you for your kind words and support - Joel
Thanks for the quick reply Joel 😊 Over the last 2 years the adults seem to just stop so i always assumed they were all lost unfortunately. But then again i didnt realise they layed so many eggs. We did think about the lack of food but this year they have been very constant with what looked to be full beaks of food. I know the box this year is a different one to previous years and facing in the opposite direction but i must check that when i next visit. The weekend here in Northern Ireland was quite warm so may be that was a factor this year. Again, thanks for your reply Joel. I’ll let them know as they get quiet emotionally annoyed with it every year. Take care. Ricky.
@@rickymcbutters You're welcome Ricky, I do hope it can be helped or solved to some extent - it can be pretty emotionally draining going through the motions with them, watching them build, try their best to take care of them all, I watched a pair of Great Tits make a nest and part raise some chicks in an old Robin nest box that was pretty low down, only to come out one morning and see that the squirrel had taken the lot :( Wishing your parents (and the blue tit parents) better success this year :) Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton yeah, they sit watching them every day and then feel guilty like its something they are doing wrong. O, no, i didn’t think a squirrel would attack chicks. Just goes to show nature can be cruel. ☀️ 🌱 🌸
Yes, this is a good way, but as you say it must be a very weak solution and after a fair bit of manual brushing to ensure debris is removed too - thank you for sharing this :) Best wishes, Joel
Hey Jimmy - best way is to make your garden as wildlife friendly as possible, even a pond would be good (I know what people say about ponds and mosquitoes!) as it will attract birds, amphibians, bats and larger insects and they all feast on mosquitoes and their larvae, bats eating around 3000 insects a night each! Best wishes - Joel
I made a bee hotel last year with 8mm and 10mm holes in, they were 7” deep, I had Leaf cutter bee is using it but it doesn’t look like they’ve hatched out yet should they have hatched out by now ?
Hi Alan - I've double-checked this for you and it seems that the general info is that leaf-cutter bees will emerge from late Spring to early Summer, so there is still time yet - I also learned that eggs destined to become females are located toward the back of the nest, and those that will develop into males will be positioned at the front. This is purely because males need to emerge sooner than the females, to be ready for them :) I hope this helps - do let me know what happens - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thank you for looking in to it for me, I will let you know what happens to those holes I have ever be is filling some holes with mud this year, not sure what bees they are, But lovely to see them using the bee Hotel,
@@alanbessant6280 Happy to help Alan - I *think* it's mainly the mason bees that use mud - I do have a book on every bee in the UK and it's pretty vast - I'd recommend it for ID purposes or to take a photo of any that you can and then research via the internet - let me know what you discover :) Best wishes, Joel
Thanks for this Dave, I must admit I wasn't aware of that condition until your comment made me google it just now! :) I've learned something again today - best wishes, Joel
@@wren5291 Just what I was saying to my hubby John. It was him that put it up yrs ago before he got bad knees with osteoarthritis. The blue tits almost came in my kitchen. I would put bits of seeds plus bits of fat balls on the step & grey bin 🗑. My favourite species of birds.
@@janiedunn637 I'm sorry to hear his knees are bad, but at least he doesn't have to put up a bee hotel now🙂. I'm not surprised they nearly came in; they're such confident, angry little birds lol. I see them in my Sycamore bickering😆🥜.
@@wren5291 I’ve a pair of carrion crow’s next door 🚪. This morning & yesterday my rather old seed feeder was lying over on the grass. Yesterday one of the crows was next to it. Not long after 12pm a magpie was flying up to a half coconut 🥥 & knocked bits out of it. It was watching the carrion crows & jackdaws earlier on. 😂 You just can’t beat them 😂
Oh my goodness! I bought mine for one bee that shows up but was worried that he or she might come back with friends. I didn’t think i would ever see a solitary bee. Why does that happen?
Can we pour boiling hot water into this as well? And do you think a meter-long bee house is too big? Do you think decking with the ribbed surface side facing each other will work? I still want to see a 20+ ft bee hotel made of bricks 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
Hi Jab - I wouldn't recommend pouring any temperature water, particularly boiling into any of the holes unless you are absolutely 100% sure that they are not occupied. The ribbed surface would have to be of a certain gap to attract bees, but might be used by other insects, I'm not sure. I expect one day I'll be asked to construct a 20ft bee hotel and if I am, I'll certainly be filming it for you 😁
If you don't want to split the wood using screws also for the back, just predrill them. Also don't take the hotel inside, you risk they hatch because of themperure difference
I see a few problems with this design my friend....for a start the roof really needs a waterproofing treatment and more of an overhang with a slight slope to shed water off and importantly how is the thing properly cleaned out annually?? it will be difficult to do easily. I would also clean all the hole fronts out from splinters with a countersinking tool? Also you could simply drill out your existing fencing posts which will serve bees just as well, and all you need is a few drill bits, but again annual cleaning out is an issue.
Thanks for your input again Brian - the roof doesn't need a waterproofing treatment, and I wouldn't recommend ANY chemicals around these bug hotels. They're not difficult to clean out and maintain: www.amazon.co.uk/Upgraded-Cleaners-Cleaning-unblocker-Bathroom/dp/B07RWS6JRR/ref=asc_df_B07RWS6JRR/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=375422453917&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12021743414402653243&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046330&hvtargid=pla-794718560320&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=76300561585&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=375422453917&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12021743414402653243&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046330&hvtargid=pla-794718560320 All sizes included with the brushes above. You can use wooden fence posts of course, but you'd have to attach roofing, and in the UK most people's fence posts are concrete.
The advice to. ‘Clean’ with a wire bush in a drilled block is nonsense and clearly shows this guy has no idea what he’s talking about. This will be a pollen mite magnet in season 2 if it’s actually use.
Ha! Yes, re pavers! Some housing developers (but not many unfortunately!) are using one or two special "bee brick nesters" - the actual "Beebrick" design won awards a few years ago from The Soil Association, I do hope more and more developers use them, there's so much we can do to help nature :) Hope you've had a good weekend, best wishes - Joel
My worry about this video is Joel suggests you need to clean out each hole with a brush each year. Male bees emerge first, breaking the main end seal, with the females emerging sometimes weeks later. Also, Blue tits and woodpeckers sometimes knock out the foremost mud seals and first plugs/cells, leaving the hole apparently empty, when in reality the earliest cells the bees lay are still safe at the back of long tubes, and waiting to emerge. I don't think you can accurately tell when any hole is 'empty'.
Thanks for you input Paul, some good points but it's essential to clean out these bee hotels for the health of bees and best in spring after all the eggs have hatched and using a small, soft brush to remove all dead bees and debris - any empty cocoons should be removed as well - they might have become infested by other insects that will deter the bees from returning next spring. Best wishes, Joel
‘Cleaning’ bee hotels is absolutely unnecessary and potentially damaging to any bees or wasps that may still be deep inside the holes. Cleaning advice is potentially harmful and it seems to be everywhere these days. I suspect an overspill from where solitary bees are used as stock to pollinate on farms where farmers want to protect their assets from losses to parasites. Absolutely unnecessary in a private garden, and the parasites are just as important and worthy as the bees themselves. Host/parasite relationships are intricate and we are not ‘saving the bees’ by trying to stop these interactions whatsoever, many parasites are bees themselves. They are often far more interesting too. I’ll close here as cleaning out your hotels could be doing much more harm than good.
Cheers Paul - I've replied below too regarding your first comment, and that should cover this one. Due to an extreme lack of habitat for bees and every other insect we need, we're providing a safe nesting space. You probably know already but many many vital bee nests are actually disturbed and destroyed by the "management" of hedgerows by farmers and land owners. We're trying to do our bit by helping in the gardens and green spaces that we caretake, whilst bigger organisations attempt to sort out the bigger picture.
How come we are not building giant bee houses instead of these? Does anyone know if our local councils are providing seeds to grow in gardens, allotments, window boxes and green areas for pollinators? Let's start the revolution in gorilla gardening again! 👊🏿😎 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
I'm not sure if councils are providing this, but it's a great idea of course - and I agree with the bee houses, but until they do we can make a difference in our own gardens :) Best wishes, Joel
@@jab4634 As big as the client will allow me to do 😁Although not specifically for bees, more a general insect hotel, this was a medium one we bult for a very generous (to wildlife) customer in London: ruclips.net/video/XPd23UFu15g/видео.html Best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I'm sure the council's have some kind of conservation department, they must lead by example if they want us to care! More action less talk.
Hi Tracey - I find local timber yards really useful, when they're smaller and "family run" they will often cut a piece to size for you and of course have timber available that has not been treated - that's not to say the larger DIY stores don't, but I do find the smaller outlets really helpful for small projects like this :) The rest should be really easy - best wishes, Joel
@@LucyLeaf Haha! Let me know how you get on, I do know that the warmth plays a big part in "germination" of the eggs and growth of larvae :) Best wishes and best of luck - Joel
Got it. A few smaller BeeNBees at better than a massive bee hotel!
BeeNBees - excellent! Bug hotels can be bigger and more general of course but these really will help the solitary bees - let me know what visitors you get :) Best wishes, Joel
Ha love it🐝🐝
I’d already made a bug/bee hotel but didn’t have the depth you recommend. My holes were less than four inches deep but I’m pleased to say that some leaf cutter bees have laid their eggs in about four of the holes and another four have mud filled entrances. I have since done one to your instructions. Thank you. 👍
About 2 years ago my friend bought me a bee hotel for my birthday. It was a fiver from a supermarket. It's never been used - apart from a snail hiding under the eaves! I thought it was because it was situated in the wrong place, but seeing this video, I realise it's because of the hole sizes like you said.
I'll have a go at making one. Thanks.
Hi Rose, it may still be useful for some creatures, but most insects like to be in the warmth and sunny areas, so do keep it and see what finds it eventually ;) If you go to a local timber merchant or diy store, usually family-run then they are really helpful at cutting the larger sizes of wood or sell you off-cuts that they would have no use for really, and they will be able to ensure that the wood they cut for you is treatment-free, and then the rest should be pretty easy :) Best wishes and let me know what turns up! Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thanks. 👍
I’m in the us and keep mason bees. We use tubes that can be cleaned to help rid the larvae and emerging bees from parasites-parasites that could clean out a population without intervention. If you drill a large enough hole these could be filled with removable tubes to be replaced each year.
Many thanks Joel. I was planning on putting an old fence post in the middle of a lawn are that I’ve let grow wild. Without the tips from this video I’d have just plonked it there without consideration for a ‘roof’ and different sizes for the holes. Cheers.
I had plans to make a bee hotel this week and was looking for ideas and plans, your timing with this is perfect! :D
So glad this was timely Wayne - let me know what bees visit, am sure they'll find it in no time :) Best wishes, Joel
ruclips.net/video/zJm8CKAOE6s/видео.html
But what size house are / were you thinking about?
Thanks Joel. Loved the video and I am definitely going to make a few. I’ve knocked a some together in the past, but now know where I went wrong.
Love this video Joel 👌🏻
You’d be surprised how much good wood people dump into skips. Found loads whilst I used to walk my late dog.
Keep up the good work Joel 😉
You're right George, skips can be an absolute treasure-trove :) Away tomorrow but I hope you enjoy the Jubilee festivities and have a good long weekend - catch up soon, best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Have a good time Joel.
Friday with neighbours for Jubilee celebrations 😉
I have an old wooden deck that we are refurbishing and its shotgun holed with bee activity. I feel bad evicting them from my 'home' and am planning on building several of these to encourage them to move into it instead of my deck/posts/joists. Your video made it look so easy! I was way over thinking it. Thank you for the tips and advice! From 'across the pond' in Oregon USA. 🤗
How lovely to read this Eileen, so pleased you are thinking of these creatures during your refurb, not many do! I am so glad the video was helpful :) Welcome to the channel, we have a great community here, all like-minded and all wanting to make a difference. Enjoy the weekend, and best of luck with the project - Joel
Hi Joel, thanks for making this bee hotel video and really appreciate you taking the time to show what are the key points when making one as well. The more we do for these insects the better our ecosystems will be 😊
Hi there! So glad this was helpful to you, and you're right, they need all the help we can give them :) Hope you're having a good weekend, best wishes - Joel
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Brilliant this Joel we keep and breed loads of Mason bees every year and have just got a bumble bees nest in the garden as well as some tree bumble bees nesting in one of our bird boxes 🐸💚🐸
Fantastic! So good to hear this, they're fascinating to watch aren't they and it's a brilliant feeling knowing that you've provided exactly what they need :) Best wishes - Joel
Thanks for this Joel. I have some old oak fence posts that had rotted at the bottom which I've kept. I now know what I will do with them 😀
Perfect use of these old posts, brilliant idea :) So glad that this was useful to you - you'll be rewarded for recycling :) Best wishes, Joel
I knew that my bee hotel that I bought at a discount store wasn't right. My bee/insect hotel looks nice, but the canes are way to wide and the whole thing is to shallow. I regurly saw a bee squeezing themselves into the smallest holes, but yet not occupying it. Now I fully know why. I will definitely look into suitable wood for them. My husband has his own drill now, so it's a good project to learn how to use such machinery on my own, maybe with some guidance at first. It is so exciting to see all the active bees in my gardens and help their activity up by a few notches more👍🏻🐝
This is great Titia, definitely try making one and yes it will be good practice :) So glad to hear about the bee numbers growing in your garden too - well done. Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton sometimes I'm observing them and I notice the differences in some, but I have no clue which species they are. I saw a black red-tailed variety, but a lot smaller than the bumblebee size. I really need a comprehensive bee/bumblebee book/guide to indentify them. I already have one for birds and butterflies, which I regurly use.
Mine has only holes in one size, but some are occupied already. Gonna make one that is like yours. Thank you for this info. 👍.
I’ve done one a few years ago from a piece of and scrap wood and it’s so exciting watching the bees come and go. Something so simple to make and it helps out the bees. Another great video
Thank you - I really appreciate that, and thanks for letting me know that it works for you too :) Best wishes, Joel
Very informative Joel. I’m so glad I watched this before planning my bee and bug hotels. Thanks for sharing.
Glad this was of help Mark :) Very simple but very effective and slightly more satisfying than the shop-bought varieties :) Hope you've had a good weekend so far, best wishes - Joel
ruclips.net/video/zJm8CKAOE6s/видео.html
Put up 4 different shop bought ones a month or so ago, and it only took a couple of weeks for the mason bees to start visiting. Will start making my own more elaborate ones in the future. It’s really satisfying watching them plug up the holes 👍🏻
Great! Have to agree that it's pretty mesmerising watching them construct these nests. These hotels are pretty simple to do and I hope it encourages more people to make them :) Hope you're having a good weekend, best wishes - Joel
Marvellous Joel very informative. I've made some bee hotels out of a fallen dead elm from Trailcam Wood that had been dead standing for a number of years with hole sizes that you suggest. I can see much activity around them as I type 😊. It is fascinating sitting near the boxes watching the comings and goings 👍😊
Fantastic! If anyone can do it, you can and I'm so glad you're receiving visitors in no time at all :) Thanks again Paul - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton
Need to cut and fetch more dead Elm now for more boxes 😁🐝
Thanks Joel another great and helpful video, will move one later as it is being cover by plants now even though 5 holes are seated up all ready.
Hi David, if you can then do wait until as many holes are sealed as possible, and then move it once the bees have "finished" utilising it :) Will be in touch when I'm back from France - not long to wait now! Best wishes - Joel
That's a great idea that most people could do.
Your mention of the Cuckoo had me wondering whether there had been any news on the bird you hand reared, I believe it was ringed. 👍
Hey Paul - my in-laws did hear a cuckoo, when they'd not previously, in the wooded area adjacent to their house, where he was released. That was last May but I was working about 200 miles away and couldn't get back to see if it was him. No news this year but Frank, the guy from the BTO, did position the ring so that if he was photographed it could be identified if someone had a detailed photo. No news yet though, but I do think of him a lot at this time of year. Best wishes - Joel
Brilliant Joel! So much helpful info here. I've got a few shop bought ones in the garden and have also made bee posts this year that free stand in the flower beds as a feature. Made a couple of mistakes though which I shall now rectify. Didn't put roofs on and used just one drill bit so all the holes are uniform sized. I shall rectify this tomorrow. It's information like this that makes a world of difference. Thank you! I have two bee nests underground this year in the edges of the lawns where I've let the buttercups grow which is I presume is because of leaving things wild. Great channel Joel so glad I found it. All the best.
Hello you! So glad this was of help, but don't make your existing bee posts redundant as one size will still please and no doubt be used :) You don't have to make all the sizes, I just wanted to show and relay the sizes that are used by the most solitary bees, even down to the very small ones we hardly notice - so glad you've got buttercups now in the lawn, I'd really love to come and visit your garden when I get a chance or am in your area - thanks so much for your support and encouragement, it does make a difference and I want to share as much as I can and encourage others, which you are clearly doing and that makes it all worthwhile. France soon, more videos and more to share, can't wait! Hoping to do some update posts while I'm out there to give everyone a taster before I'm back. Best wishes, as always - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton You'll always be welcome I make a great cuppa! Thanks for the info, maybe some more bee homes with different sizes will bee the way to go! Enjoy yourselves in France, a break from us will do you good haha!
Thanks for all the explanations, this video is very informative, I appreciate that :)
That cuckoo video was the first one I watched!😊. So glad you made this. I hate seeing 'Bee' Hotel on products in shops when the holes are clearly not big enough, or too big; great for smaller bugs, yes, but not bees. I've had many bees visit this year already, and thanks to the Herb Robert that's taken over the garden😂 - as well as my usual Dandelions, lots of smaller bees too! This is a great little project that makes a huge difference, thanks!👌🏽. Now go on holiday and have a rest🍹😎.
So glad you enjoyed this - and great re the visitors to the Herb Robert and Dandelions. I leave early next week for France and am really looking forward to it, I won't be able to resist taking footage of what I see and will be able to share it with you all when I return :) Take good care, best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I wouldn't be able to resist getting footage and sharing either! I'm so looking forward to see what you discover - love SW France🙌🏽. Bon voyage and enjoyeee!🍷🦋.
Great I will have a go on the weekend.
Excellent :) Let me know how you get on, remember it's not about aesthetics but how useful it is. Best wishes, Joel
Thank you for the vid, will try to make one myself next summer :)
Great video. I’m ruminating on huge bee hotels that would take lots of time and effort. This is probably a much better idea. A few small ones that I actually make is better than a giant one that remain on the drawboard for years. I’ll probably add some kind of protection against woodpeckers too 🙂
Great video Joel and a really simple and effective method of providing habitat.
Out of all insects bees are my favourite.
I once tried to talk my wife Zoe into letting me have a hive, (even though I don't like honey myself)
Needless to say my request was turned down.
Anyway, hope you are well Joel and sending all our best to you and yours 🙂
I hope you're "allowed" to put a few of these up, they'll be just as rewarding - I was reading that hive honeybees can have a rather detrimental effect on solitary bees as they will of course use a lot of nectar near to the hives, a fine balancing act of course :/ Off to France tomorrow, I hope you have a good long weekend and enjoy the festivities :) Best wishes to you all, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks Joel. Safe journey mate and look forward to you getting back safely 👍
Easy to build and looks like a piece of garden art too 👍
It's really simple isn't it and I thought that this will allow most people to be able to make one pretty easily - and they do look good too :) Hope you're having a good weekend - best wishes as always - Joel
Doh 🤦♂️ I’ve got a few garden centre bee hotels dotted around the garden 😳 looks like I’m going to have a busy weekend making something a bit better. On a side note there was an amazing bit on springwatch about the Osmia bee which lays its eggs in a discarded snails shell 🐝 well worth watching.
They might not go to waste Mark, some insects will still find refuge there I am sure but you will notice the difference with the visitors to these solitary bee hotels - I haven't managed to watch Springwatch yet but I was reading that some of the leaf cutter bees use snail shells too :) Let me know what visitors you get! Best wishes, Joel
perfect, just the info i was looking for, however i'd be particularly interested in knowing the diameter desired by the patchwork leafcutter since there's at least 10 of them that utilise the DA roses in my front and back garden every year, i love watching them cut out the leaf, they work sooo fast, about 10 seconds and they're off again carrying their nest material.
Hi there - I would go up to 12mm with the drill bit and again as deep as you can but leaving an enclosed space, they will happily utilise this size :) So glad you get to see them doing this, it's pretty amazing - hope this helps, best wishes - Joel
Thank you so much 🙏🥰
Greetings from the Netherlands 🌷
Needed this advice after a leaf cutter bee used my hose gun last year and this year I have bees using the square metal framework on my garden bench, both situated in my greenhouse, so I guess they’re guaranteeing a dry winter!
Had to stick to using the watering can! Left a pile or two of cut grass on the borders to attract bumblebee’s and the blackbirds kept dismantling them. Then found they’d moved in to a pile of material I’d left to process, by the compost heap.
Brilliant! It's amazing what they will utilise, but shows they're always on the lookout for suitable habitat :)
LOL at the watering can! I bet they bring you many rewards for providing such varied nesting sites for them :) Best wishes, Joel
Really Impressed by that video Great 👍🏻 this is such an informative video I've never seen such a fantastic video 😊🌹 Thanks for sharing 👍🏻 Keep it up and keep making amazing 👏 videos like this one 💐🌹🇨🇦😊
Such useful information, thank you
Can you use fresh wood, like a thick tree branch?
Thanks!
Welcome!
Really interesting. Thank you.
You're welcome Sheila, hope you're having a good weekend :) Best wishes, Joel
Brilliant! Thank you. DA
Thank you Donald :)
Did you say bring them in over winter?? (Also,when do they start/finish laying?)
Hi Joel, how did you drill the 2mm hole to 5 inches deep when the drill itself is only 3 inches long. 1/2 inch in the chuck only leaves 2 1/2 available ? If you clean the holes out from the front you could injure anything in the tunnel, surely best to unscrew the back and push the brush from back to front if you have drilled the holes all the way through, which you should have done. Use a countersink bit in the drill to de burr the entrance to the holes.
Hi Colin, the 2mm drill bit I showed in the video was to give people an idea of the size of hole required - I do stipulate that the holes be circa 15cm deep and for this you would of course need what I used, the extra-long straight shank auger wood bit which of course wasn't shown. I do make it clear that it is best to clean these in Spring when there are no larvae after they have over-wintered. Unless you have access to an endoscope (!) damage could be caused whatever direction the brush is pushed, so again it's best to ensure there is no mud/leaf visible in the holes and wait until Spring. Agree re the countersink drill bit, but again I make it clear re any burring and ensuring the holes are as smooth as possible - we know of course that in the "wild" they will use hollow twigs and abandoned nests of carpenter bees etc :) Best wishes, Joel
It’s just you don’t say use an auger bit in the video. Anyone making there own may struggle without the correct tools. Never seen a 2mm auger. Extra long twist drills are available. You may get earwigs, spiders and other insects that could be injured when brushing out from the front as they could squashed at the back of the tunnel.
@@colinjennings8778 I didn't show much of the drilling at all in the video, these are videos to help people, not workshops and my channel is to encourage others, not provide every detail for free in 25 mins ;) There's lots more I could have spoken about in the video but I also have a more than full-time job aside from the YT channel. It's not obligatory that anyone caters for all bee sizes of course but hopefully most will find the information sufficient for them to cater for most bee solitary bee species and make a difference. You need to look for the HSS straight shank auger, they do these up to at least 160mm long in the 2-5mm diameter if that helps :) Oh, and re spiders and other smaller insects, unless we all become Jain monks we're going to be damaging some life form or another just by being alive!
Ok mate, I’m not criticising, I think you and your team do a fantastic job. And you are an inspiration to us all trying to create wildlife habitats! Have a well deserved time in France.
@@colinjennings8778 Thanks Colin, appreciated - I do try to make as much time as possible to share everything that I hope people can implement easily, and see the rewards almost immediately. Off to France on Wednesday so lots to do yet but am really looking forward to the break and the diverse fauna and flora - will be sure to take footage so I can share it all with you when I return - best wishes, Joel
I have a bunch of 2/4s. Would I be able to piece together three or four of them to make the proper depth?
I can't see this being a problem at all, as long as they are secure of course and the hole isn't interrupted, as well as being the right depth and diameter :) Hope this helps, best wishes - Joel
Wow, great info which I had no idea about. Curious tho, what do you think about hung it so the holes were to the right or left. Asking because where I live the rain and wind come from the south, just thinking if the holes were on the side the rain wouldn't get in as easily.?
I've never thought about that aspect Wende, but I can't see there being a problem as long as it gets a lot of sun/warmth :) You could also increase the roof size I guess too - hope you're having a good weekend, best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton
I think I'll do both, a bit longer roof, and turn it so the rain isn't blown in, well if it could be anyway. I hope you're having a grand time in France, you lucky guys. My weekend has been beautiful.
@@itsmewende Not there yet Wende, glad in a way as there's so much still to do but I leave early on Weds 1st and am back around 10th I think, I really can't wait. Will be sure to film as much as I can so I've got lots to share with you all when I'm back. Great idea re doing both, let me know how you get on :) Look after yourself and the cat crew Wende, can't wait to catch up again soon - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton
Oh ok, thought you guys were already there, guess i wasn't paying attention if you mentioned the dates. Safe travels in that case, see ya in a few.
Perfect Timing!!
I was just about to do research on what size to make the holes!
I'm in Texas, and after watching your video, I'm surprised there are only 2 diameter sizes for Britain!
I've been wondering just how many sizes would be best for bees in Texas?
2 doesn't seem like enough! But then I haven't done my research yet.
One question-
I'm going to be drilling holes into a 6 foot tall tree stump still standing, is it best to remove the bark first?
I CAN do that,
but would rather not have to...
Hi there - sorry if it wasn't clear but the holes range FROM 2mm to 10mm - with additional holes drilled at 4mm, 6mm and 8mm in between :) I don't think you'll have to remove the bark, which should be good news - hope this helps and let me know what visitors you get! Best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton oh Thanks!
Not removing the bark IS good news!
And honestly, you probably were clear on those sizes.
I'm sure it was my own early morning brain that wasn't clear!
I'll watch again - AFTER coffee!
@@gardengatesopen Haha! Glad this has given you less work to do - it's late afternoon here and I could do with a coffee or two too! Hope you're having a good weekend, best wishes - Joel
This is so awesome
Thanks
Thank you so much Becky, I really appreciate it and hope it was helpful :) Best wishes, Joel
what is the best time of year to set one up? Around end of may or earlier?
Hey Nico! Great to hear from you :) Right now and of course earlier in the year - masonry bees will nest from Spring right through to Summer and each bee will utilise around 6 to 12 chambers for their eggs. You'll likely see solitary bees emerging during April and May - after which they will mate and the females will return to the hive and lay their own eggs to over-winter. So if you make one, ensure you're around in Spring to see the grateful inhabitants emerge as well as the grateful bees using them this summer :) Hope this helps and that you've had a good weekend - best wishes, Joel
Hi
Anything specific to do once up to encourage bees to populate the hotel ?
Hi there Graham - so sorry for not getting back to you sooner, I've been away for 10 days in France and just trying to catch up with everyone now. Definitely planting pollinator plants nearby will encourage more bees and of course some wet/moist mud and sand will mean they find material quickly to be able to plug up the holes :) Apologies again for the delay, but I hope this is helpful - if you wanted any pollinator/wildflowers then you can find them at our shop online here and we're of course happy to advise before you purchase:
www.wildyourgarden.com
I hope this is helpful - best wishes, Joel
Question from someone just learning about providing nests for bees. I see where some sites sell cardboard tubes and mention how you can harvest the larva from the tubes. What happens to the larva in your bee house? and why would you want to harvest the larva?
For pest control. Drilled wooden blocks will be fine in season 1, but if the same block is left out for multiple seasons you’ve got a pollen mite and Houdini fly factory there, not a mason bee house. The reason being that they are impossible to clean. By all means replace it every year though.
Awesome video, will be making one this week now ☺️
This is great - so pleased that another habitat is going to be made for these creatures in need, thank you :) Best wishes - Joel
Hi Joel, thanks again for another video! This one is off the topic of your video but I’m hoping you or someone in the comments can help. My mum and dad have bird boxes at their house and the passed 3 years blue tits have nested in one. Unfortunately every year we find chicks dead under the box, and to me they are removed from the nest by the adults as they are to young to climb out themselves. Is there a reason you would know off? Or what we can do to help prevent this? They have peace in the garden with no noise apart from the lawnmower but this doesn’t stop the adults flying in and out. Thanks in advance, greatly appreciated and enjoy your content! Ricky
Hi Ricky - do you see chicks successfully fledge from the nest each year or are they all "lost"? Unfortunately due to a lack of caterpillar "food" a lot of chicks can die through starvation, parents will try to feed live food where they can as it is the only source of moisture for the chicks. Sometimes an inexperienced mother can discard chicks that are not actually dead but if this has happened for 3 successive years it does seem odd. This is partly why blue tits in particular have such large broods (sometimes 10-12 eggs). There can be problems when one of the parents dies mid-way through rearing the chicks. The only other thing I can think of is if the box is facing south or west and is exposed to the sun all day then chicks can die of heat exhaustion. Sorry the answer is pretty vague but it's difficult without knowing the situation. I hope this helps a little, best wishes and thank you for your kind words and support - Joel
Thanks for the quick reply Joel 😊
Over the last 2 years the adults seem to just stop so i always assumed they were all lost unfortunately. But then again i didnt realise they layed so many eggs. We did think about the lack of food but this year they have been very constant with what looked to be full beaks of food. I know the box this year is a different one to previous years and facing in the opposite direction but i must check that when i next visit. The weekend here in Northern Ireland was quite warm so may be that was a factor this year. Again, thanks for your reply Joel. I’ll let them know as they get quiet emotionally annoyed with it every year. Take care. Ricky.
@@rickymcbutters You're welcome Ricky, I do hope it can be helped or solved to some extent - it can be pretty emotionally draining going through the motions with them, watching them build, try their best to take care of them all, I watched a pair of Great Tits make a nest and part raise some chicks in an old Robin nest box that was pretty low down, only to come out one morning and see that the squirrel had taken the lot :( Wishing your parents (and the blue tit parents) better success this year :) Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton yeah, they sit watching them every day and then feel guilty like its something they are doing wrong. O, no, i didn’t think a squirrel would attack chicks. Just goes to show nature can be cruel. ☀️ 🌱 🌸
You can also use a very weak solution of Milton. And if you know anyone who’s got a baby or anyone who taps birch for sap, they’ll have Milton.
Yes, this is a good way, but as you say it must be a very weak solution and after a fair bit of manual brushing to ensure debris is removed too - thank you for sharing this :) Best wishes, Joel
how can you deter mosquitoes in your backyard pond because I get a lot
Thanks!
Hey Jimmy - best way is to make your garden as wildlife friendly as possible, even a pond would be good (I know what people say about ponds and mosquitoes!) as it will attract birds, amphibians, bats and larger insects and they all feast on mosquitoes and their larvae, bats eating around 3000 insects a night each! Best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thanks so much!
@@Jimmyandtony You're welcome Jimmy :)
Good job !
Thanks Deborah - hope this encourages you to make one too :) Best wishes, and hope you're having a good weekend - Joel
I made a bee hotel last year with 8mm and 10mm holes in, they were 7” deep, I had Leaf cutter bee is using it but it doesn’t look like they’ve hatched out yet should they have hatched out by now ?
Hi Alan - I've double-checked this for you and it seems that the general info is that leaf-cutter bees will emerge from late Spring to early Summer, so there is still time yet - I also learned that eggs destined to become females are located toward the back of the nest, and those that will develop into males will be positioned at the front. This is purely because males need to emerge sooner than the females, to be ready for them :) I hope this helps - do let me know what happens - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thank you for looking in to it for me, I will let you know what happens to those holes I have ever be is filling some holes with mud this year, not sure what bees they are,
But lovely to see them using the bee Hotel,
@@alanbessant6280 Happy to help Alan - I *think* it's mainly the mason bees that use mud - I do have a book on every bee in the UK and it's pretty vast - I'd recommend it for ID purposes or to take a photo of any that you can and then research via the internet - let me know what you discover :) Best wishes, Joel
Trypophobia warning on this, for those who can't do many holes grouped together. Otherwise, this is really great information, Thanks Joel!
Thanks for this Dave, I must admit I wasn't aware of that condition until your comment made me google it just now! :) I've learned something again today - best wishes, Joel
👍🏻 Joel. My old bird box is now a beehive 🐝. I videoed it , yesterday. It used to be a small one for blue tits. It’s just wonderful.
Nature: the original repurposer😊👍🏽.
@@wren5291 Just what I was saying to my hubby John. It was him that put it up yrs ago before he got bad knees with osteoarthritis. The blue tits almost came in my kitchen. I would put bits of seeds plus bits of fat balls on the step & grey bin 🗑. My favourite species of birds.
@@janiedunn637 I'm sorry to hear his knees are bad, but at least he doesn't have to put up a bee hotel now🙂. I'm not surprised they nearly came in; they're such confident, angry little birds lol. I see them in my Sycamore bickering😆🥜.
Fantastic Janie! So good to hear this, what a wonderful reward :) Best wishes, Joel
@@wren5291 I’ve a pair of carrion crow’s next door 🚪. This morning & yesterday my rather old seed feeder was lying over on the grass. Yesterday one of the crows was next to it. Not long after 12pm a magpie was flying up to a half coconut 🥥 & knocked bits out of it. It was watching the carrion crows & jackdaws earlier on. 😂 You just can’t beat them 😂
Oh my goodness! I bought mine for one bee that shows up but was worried that he or she might come back with friends. I didn’t think i would ever see a solitary bee. Why does that happen?
Can we pour boiling hot water into this as well?
And do you think a meter-long bee house is too big?
Do you think decking with the ribbed surface side facing each other will work?
I still want to see a 20+ ft bee hotel made of bricks 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
Hi Jab - I wouldn't recommend pouring any temperature water, particularly boiling into any of the holes unless you are absolutely 100% sure that they are not occupied. The ribbed surface would have to be of a certain gap to attract bees, but might be used by other insects, I'm not sure.
I expect one day I'll be asked to construct a 20ft bee hotel and if I am, I'll certainly be filming it for you 😁
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I'll probably help you construct the bloody thing I have a brilliant idea for one but can't say! 😂👍🏿
If you don't want to split the wood using screws also for the back, just predrill them. Also don't take the hotel inside, you risk they hatch because of themperure difference
Absolutely, the bees will be used to over-wintering outdoors so there's no need to take these indoors at any point. Thank you, best wishes - Joel
I see a few problems with this design my friend....for a start the roof really needs a waterproofing treatment and more of an overhang with a slight slope to shed water off and importantly how is the thing properly cleaned out annually?? it will be difficult to do easily. I would also clean all the hole fronts out from splinters with a countersinking tool? Also you could simply drill out your existing fencing posts which will serve bees just as well, and all you need is a few drill bits, but again annual cleaning out is an issue.
Thanks for your input again Brian - the roof doesn't need a waterproofing treatment, and I wouldn't recommend ANY chemicals around these bug hotels. They're not difficult to clean out and maintain:
www.amazon.co.uk/Upgraded-Cleaners-Cleaning-unblocker-Bathroom/dp/B07RWS6JRR/ref=asc_df_B07RWS6JRR/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=375422453917&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12021743414402653243&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046330&hvtargid=pla-794718560320&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=76300561585&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=375422453917&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12021743414402653243&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046330&hvtargid=pla-794718560320
All sizes included with the brushes above. You can use wooden fence posts of course, but you'd have to attach roofing, and in the UK most people's fence posts are concrete.
The advice to. ‘Clean’ with a wire bush in a drilled block is nonsense and clearly shows this guy has no idea what he’s talking about. This will be a pollen mite magnet in season 2 if it’s actually use.
Why is no-one using a countersink to clean up the edges of the holes? Much quicker.
Drill holes in old buildingstones for masonerybees. Do not take pavers, too hard. 😉
Ha! Yes, re pavers! Some housing developers (but not many unfortunately!) are using one or two special "bee brick nesters" - the actual "Beebrick" design won awards a few years ago from The Soil Association, I do hope more and more developers use them, there's so much we can do to help nature :) Hope you've had a good weekend, best wishes - Joel
I would make them smaller as to not draw too many predators honestly.
Agreed - I have seen several over-sized ones and the science does "say" that this size or smaller are better all round :)
My worry about this video is Joel suggests you need to clean out each hole with a brush each year. Male bees emerge first, breaking the main end seal, with the females emerging sometimes weeks later. Also, Blue tits and woodpeckers sometimes knock out the foremost mud seals and first plugs/cells, leaving the hole apparently empty, when in reality the earliest cells the bees lay are still safe at the back of long tubes, and waiting to emerge. I don't think you can accurately tell when any hole is 'empty'.
Thanks for you input Paul, some good points but it's essential to clean out these bee hotels for the health of bees and best in spring after all the eggs have hatched and using a small, soft brush to remove all dead bees and debris - any empty cocoons should be removed as well - they might have become infested by other insects that will deter the bees from returning next spring. Best wishes, Joel
‘Cleaning’ bee hotels is absolutely unnecessary and potentially damaging to any bees or wasps that may still be deep inside the holes. Cleaning advice is potentially harmful and it seems to be everywhere these days. I suspect an overspill from where solitary bees are used as stock to pollinate on farms where farmers want to protect their assets from losses to parasites. Absolutely unnecessary in a private garden, and the parasites are just as important and worthy as the bees themselves. Host/parasite relationships are intricate and we are not ‘saving the bees’ by trying to stop these interactions whatsoever, many parasites are bees themselves. They are often far more interesting too. I’ll close here as cleaning out your hotels could be doing much more harm than good.
Cheers Paul - I've replied below too regarding your first comment, and that should cover this one. Due to an extreme lack of habitat for bees and every other insect we need, we're providing a safe nesting space. You probably know already but many many vital bee nests are actually disturbed and destroyed by the "management" of hedgerows by farmers and land owners. We're trying to do our bit by helping in the gardens and green spaces that we caretake, whilst bigger organisations attempt to sort out the bigger picture.
Why you waste our time?
How come we are not building giant bee houses instead of these? Does anyone know if our local councils are providing seeds to grow in gardens, allotments, window boxes and green areas for pollinators? Let's start the revolution in gorilla gardening again! 👊🏿😎
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
I'm not sure if councils are providing this, but it's a great idea of course - and I agree with the bee houses, but until they do we can make a difference in our own gardens :) Best wishes, Joel
So what's your next size up bee house?
@@jab4634 As big as the client will allow me to do 😁Although not specifically for bees, more a general insect hotel, this was a medium one we bult for a very generous (to wildlife) customer in London:
ruclips.net/video/XPd23UFu15g/видео.html
Best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I'm sure the council's have some kind of conservation department, they must lead by example if they want us to care! More action less talk.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,very...informative...video...thank...you...for...sharing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,watching...here...new...friend...WENGSARICA,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,from...p--h--i--l--i--p--p--i--n--e--s,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Just have to find a nice chunky bit of wood now..🪵🐝
Hi Tracey - I find local timber yards really useful, when they're smaller and "family run" they will often cut a piece to size for you and of course have timber available that has not been treated - that's not to say the larger DIY stores don't, but I do find the smaller outlets really helpful for small projects like this :) The rest should be really easy - best wishes, Joel
Thanks for the tip. Might add one in the greenhouse too and compare success rates :)
@@LucyLeaf Haha! Let me know how you get on, I do know that the warmth plays a big part in "germination" of the eggs and growth of larvae :) Best wishes and best of luck - Joel