chickenanne Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Does anyone have one of those little bee nesting boxes? I was tempted to make one. Is it feasible to use different sections for different types of insects: bumbles, lacewing, ladybirds etc? Can anyone recommend them, or does yours sit in the garden ready and waiting but empty of bugs? I don't want to go make one if it's not going to be effective! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Yes, there is something you can put together using wood, roof tiles and canes etc. to attract all sorts of insects - Pengy has made one.....and the name of it escapes me just at the moment........ We have lots of places for insects so I haven't made one yet - I was going to let the grandchildren loose on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdcambs Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 The easiest and cheapest home to make for leaf cutter bees, and some others, is to get a slightly ripe (not quite getting on for rotten) fallen tree branch about as thick as your arm, cut it into one foot lengths and drill a variety of sizes of holes into each end about three or four inches deep. Then hang the log horizontally at chest height from a fence. In the spring you'll get a variety of bees taking up residence in the holes and the best thing is they will all be stingless so the kids can get as close as they want. Then in the winter, any unused holes are likely to be occupied by lady birds to hibernate in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 One of the simplest and easy to make is a set of short lengths of bamboo cane, bunched together and arranged horizontally. Good for solitary bees/wasps etc. Nesting sites for bumbles can range from simple up-turned plant pots (with appropriate entry and rain protection) to custom built nesting boxes. or does yours sit in the garden ready and waiting but empty of bugs? One cannot expect to put out a box and expect the next passing bumble bee to take up residence. Utilisation of one in three would be regarded as an excellent result. That would require proper siting and preparation, and possibly a large slice of luck, unless one had previous experience. A bumble would almost certainly choose an old mouse nest over a clean and pristine box put out by a gardener. The box may well need to be occupied by a mouse before a bumble bee would consider it as a possible choice (they are quite picky!). Regards, RAB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 I think Pengy's was called a nature stack It started with little spaces for hodgehegs , then moved up with old bits of wood and tiles and leaves and things, im sure she will pop along at some point and give infomation ill have a look to see if I can find the information about it cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 im baaaaaaack here it the thread called (I was right ) Nature stack viewtopic.php?f=21&t=42235&hilit=nature+stack cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 We've had a bumper year here for bumble bees. They have plenty of nesting places in the dry stone walls. We also had these last year in an old tree. They didn't return so we had a look at the nest and it was beautifully and delicately made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 im baaaaaaack here it the thread called (I was right ) Nature stack viewtopic.php?f=21&t=42235&hilit=nature+stack cathy x What a wonderful creation. I feel a project coming on for my grandson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted August 20, 2009 Author Share Posted August 20, 2009 Thanks all for the tips - I like the wildlife stack, and think I'll make separate sections of it, and particularly like pdcambs idea for solitary bees, it sounds staggeringly simple too! Obviously I would have to be pretty dim not to realise that many boxes will be uninhabited each year, but people who use these boxes probably find some designs and sites are more effective than others, and some probably don't work at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 chickenanne wrote: I was tempted to make one. then pretty dim not to realise that many boxes will be uninhabited each year. Maybe you should be thinking of making at least three? Regards, RAB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaPoule Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 OOh - a nature stack! I want to build one of those! I'm sure I found some instructions somewhere...rummages (hmmm...how do you rummage on a computer...) BLAST - I'm sure I downloaded something somewhere, but can I find it?! Well, anyway, they're very cool! You should defintely build one (or three... ) ...time passes... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! FOUND IT! http://gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/environmental-gardening/wild-garden-must-haves/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 yay love it, i might have to build 7 (well, why not ) thank you cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Nature Stacks!! - that's what they're called Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 (edited) I can't believe it took me so long to catch on being as how I seem to be in Bees all the time lately. The nature stack is doing well - I always see a lot of things in that corner of the garden so I think it's well inhabited. I got the original plan from Gardeners World magazine a couple of years ago and as soon as I saw it I wanted to make one. Pretty much all of the instructions are on my blog - which I think I am allowed to post the link to as it's on Omlet Planet apologies if it's not allowed and gets removed but you can find it in my signature. Here is the link to the relevant bit though.... http://penguinmad.vox.com/library/posts/tags/nature+stack/ Reading back through that I think it includes all the right info about what each bit attracts. If anyone has any more suggestions though I could incorporate them. Also looking at that post has reminded me to go and see how the one at the resovior is doing - and if it is still double neat, mind you theirs doesnt' get chickend! Edited August 21, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 I can't see the photo Pengy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 DOH! Shoulda been a linky not a piccie - serves me right for posting after a glass of vino.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
