tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936854914985552986.post2221168351250287649..comments2013-03-02T21:54:27.564-08:00Comments on Beasty Bees: First Hive OpeningSirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07199390352790173601noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936854914985552986.post-46534529328640637152013-01-06T18:13:49.577-08:002013-01-06T18:13:49.577-08:00Hey David.
Lovely to hear from you. Hope you are ...Hey David.<br /><br />Lovely to hear from you. Hope you are keeping warm!!<br /><br />I certainly understand your concerns about the kids next door. I think that the location of the hive is really important. <br /><br />When I was thinking about setting up I wasn't comfortable having a hive in the back yard because of the curious pussycats and the active possum night life, also two of our five boundaries share with blocks of flats and their corresponding car parks. <br /><br />The front garden was out too because there are certain regulations about the positioning of the hive... 2m from boundary fences/impenetrable barriers (like a hedge) if they are over 2m high, 3m away from the boundary if not. I did my research on where I could actually have the hive legally (they are registered here in Australia and open for inspection by the government at any stage... but usually only if there is a complaint!) and it turned out that I needed to create the space myself.<br /><br />I erected a fence across the driveway and have placed the hive behind it. This fits in nicely with the regulations about positioning and hides the hive from the view of anyone who isn't actually on my property peering over the fence! I can tell that there are bees coming and going because they fly over the fence, but most of the airspace that they take up is hidden from view. None of my visitors have noticed the bees, even when they have walked past the fence to come to the front door. I am also hidden from view when I am opening the hive.<br /><br />My neighbour whose home the hive faces is an elderly Ukrainian gentleman who is often out in his garden too.... but I have positioned the hive as far away from my living spaces, which means they are far away from his too!! <br /><br />Bee air traffic seems to be most intense around the hive in about a 2m cubed area.... a bit hard to describe. The bees were very active when I first brought them home, circling, getting their bearings etc.... but now it is only a few baby bees that circle and most of the foragers know exactly where they are going and fly in and out very quickly. The opening really does direct their flight path to a considerable degree.... so consider this with your placement. Here in Southern hemisphere they like their opening to face North, North/East... probably a little different for you in the Northern Hemisphere.<br /><br />I hope that has helped? Overall.... they are hardly noticable if they are hidden from general view and happy doing their business. If your neighbours have veggies or fruit trees I reckon they will notice their increased yield before they notice a bee.<br /><br />CordeliaSirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07199390352790173601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2936854914985552986.post-92062437868054007222013-01-06T09:43:42.621-08:002013-01-06T09:43:42.621-08:00Really cool. I'm curious about what kind of s...Really cool. I'm curious about what kind of space you have overall. I've been half toying with the idea of beekeeping at my place, but I'd be a bit nervous about having so many bees in close proximity to the kids next door.<br /><br />I'm really looking forward to hearing more about your apiarial experiences!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15120987424549274159noreply@blogger.com