Birds & Bees
Birds & Bees
The allotments are home to many varieties of fauna.
Below is information provided by our plot holders on Birds & Bees.
BIRDS
Here are some of the birds which have been seen on or near the allotments (thanks to Pat Lathey):
BEES
There are two dedicated bee plots, one on Lovibonds Avenue (managed by Hans Migo) and one on Willow Walk (managed by Steve Ballard) . Below are some "Helpful Hints If Bees Swarm", details of "An Introduction To Bee Keeping" (provided by Hans) and "Willow Walk Bees" describing how the bees were introduced to the site (provided by Steve).
Helpful Hints If Bees Swarm
As some of you are aware, bees can be particularly active at certain times of the year resulting in swarming. In this event, a number of steps can be taken which should substantially reduce the incidence of swarms, although they cannot be eliminated. So, we thought it would be a good idea to share more information on how you should (or should not) interact with the bees.
- One bee plot is located on the western edge of the Willow Walk site, close to plot 11. Another is located on the northern edge of the Lovibonds site , close to plot 74. You must not, under any circumstances, enter these plots, or allow your children to enter them.
- Swarms usually occur April to June but may continue into July.
- Bees may visit your plot to collect nectar or to drink. They are not normally any kind of threat to you. It is never a good idea to flap at them, as they may well react to what they see as aggressive behaviour.
- Problems with the bees are very rare, but if you experience them on Willow Walk you should phone Steve on 07505 788073
(this number is also on the bee plot gate). If you experience them on Lovibonds you should phone Hans on 01689 862175
(this number is also on the bee plot gate). In particular, you should always call the appropriate bee keeper when you see the bees swarming. Please also report problems to the Committee by email committeetaa@tugmuttonallotments.co.uk
- In the period after the bee keeper has been working with the hives, the bees can be agitated, and can see the presence of humans in the vicinity of their plot as a threat. This is normally a problem only on the paths and plots immediately bordering the bee plot. If a single bee buzzes round you walk calmly away from the vicinity until it stops following you. You can probably return after 10 minutes but may have to give up sooner than you had planned.
- The bee keeper will deploy a red flag on the bee plot during those times when the bees are likely to be agitated. Nearby plot holders should take extra care when they see the red flag.
- In the event that you do get stung, make sure the sting does not remain in situ - it will release more toxin.
- If many bees are flying around move away. They will settle after about 30 minutes. If they swarm on your plot or nearby stop for the day and phone the appropriate bee keeper on the numbers shown above.
WILLOW WALK BEES
Now that we have resident bees on Willow Walk, we thought you might be interested in what we do to keep them happy, pollinating and producing honey.
The first bees to arrive were as a result of swarm control measures taken in our garden. Swarms are the way bees replicate but create a problem for the beekeeper in that it means they will lose approximately a third of their hive. This can seriously affect the size of the honey crop. Happily this year it was a good way to move bees into the allotment.
The bees produce queen cells into which the existing queen will lay an egg. Three days later a larvae will hatch and will be fed an enriched food called royal jelly. Five days later the cell will be capped with wax which is usually the cue for the existing queen and around a third of the bees to swarm and look for a new home. Eight days on and the new queen will emerge and search out any other queen cells and sting the queens in those cells (there can only be one queen). A few days on and this queen will be taken on mating flights when she will mate with several male bees known as “drones” and within a week or two will hopefully start laying eggs.
To set up our hives at the allotment, we identified hives in our garden that were preparing to swarm and we moved the Queen and a few frames of bees into an empty hive which we drove down to the allotment. This hopefully fools the bees into thinking they have swarmed. With luck the bees moved will accept their new home and the virgin queen left behind in the original hive will mate successfully.
The first bees to arrive were as a result of swarm control measures taken in our garden. Swarms are the way bees replicate but create a problem for the beekeeper in that it means they will lose approximately a third of their hive. This can seriously affect the size of the honey crop. Happily this year it was a good way to move bees into the allotment.
The bees produce queen cells into which the existing queen will lay an egg. Three days later a larvae will hatch and will be fed an enriched food called royal jelly. Five days later the cell will be capped with wax which is usually the cue for the existing queen and around a third of the bees to swarm and look for a new home. Eight days on and the new queen will emerge and search out any other queen cells and sting the queens in those cells (there can only be one queen). A few days on and this queen will be taken on mating flights when she will mate with several male bees known as “drones” and within a week or two will hopefully start laying eggs.
To set up our hives at the allotment, we identified hives in our garden that were preparing to swarm and we moved the Queen and a few frames of bees into an empty hive which we drove down to the allotment. This hopefully fools the bees into thinking they have swarmed. With luck the bees moved will accept their new home and the virgin queen left behind in the original hive will mate successfully.
The Queen with entourage. She cannot feed herself and has to be fed by her attendant bees. We usually put a coloured spot on the queen to help find her, the colour is chosen to identify her age.
A swarm of bees. In the middle of the cluster is a queen. This is only a temporary stopping off point whilst scout bees search for a permanent home.
