Solitary Beehive

Full Description

Solitary bees normally nest in holes in wood, so this best-selling Solitary Beehive has been designed to simulate the natural nesting conditions that solitary bees love. This wooden Solitary Beehive has a durable timber roof and base with wooden nesting trays in-between, which are all held together with two stainless steel bolts – this allows easy access to the entire beehive.

The Solitary Beehive is made from durable FSC certified timber and consists of a number of stacking nesting trays, which can be opened for inspection and/or cleaning. The hole sizes are designed to attract non-swarming bees like the Red Mason Bee, Leafcutter Bee and other solitary bees. These friendly bees are safe around children and pets (they rarely sting) and are naturally attracted to holes in wood – holes which are becoming harder to find in modern gardens. The Red Mason Bee (Osmia rufa) is active in the garden from March to July and is responsible for pollinating top fruit and soft fruit. The Blue Mason Bee (Osmia caerulescens) is active in the garden from late April to late July and is an effective pollinator of summer flowers, herbs and vegetables.

Solitary bees then lay their eggs inside the holes and seal them with mud or chewed up vegetation, so it is easy to tell if it is being used. The following year the adults AND their offspring will use the same nest again building up the numbers of solitary bees visiting your garden each year. Site the solitary beehive 1-1.5 metres high, in a sheltered site which catches the morning sun and near scented plants. A mud supply is useful, but not essential. Height x 20cm width x 18cm depth x 16cm.

• Site in a sunny position facing between south south east to catch some morning sun. Mounting height between ground level and 1.5m.
• No chemical treatments needed as the habitat is made from durable FSC certified timber.
• Stacking trays may be inspected after bee activity has ceased i.e. in the Autumn/Winter.