Solitary Bee Factory

Full Description

Made exclusively for Green Gardener, this wall mountable, wooden Solitary Bee Factory allows you to attract solitary bees and to harvest bee cocoons, which can then be stored and released the following spring. It is made locally in the UK from sustainable FSC timber and features removeable (and replaceable) cardboard bee tubes, 2 x Perspex nesting trays and a cocoon release tray. The roof is painted with water based paint, while the timber is untreated with is best for insects, so it will change colour as it ages and weathers, but it can be left untreated or use a water based wood stain. The bee tubes and the 2 x Perspex nesting trays are designed attract solitary bees. Any cocoons produced can then be harvested by soaking the cardboard tubes or by unscrewing the Perspex viewing windows. These cocoons are then be stored in a cool place until the following spring. Then use the cocoon release tray to allow the cocoons to hatch and for the bees to emerge. These bees (and their offspring) will use the same nest again building up the numbers of solitary bees visiting your garden each year. The Solitary Bee Factory is ideal for observing solitary bees and for building up bee numbers. Height 37cm x Depth 16.5cm x Width 23cm.

Site in a sunny position facing between south and 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 timber.