I visited the newly-marked-out (lottie rep who does these things was on holiday) lottie today with the bloke and his ma', and while (yippee!) the council have put a brand new water tank right at the bottom of it, they (d'oh!) haven't bothered filling in where the pipe comes out of the ground. It goes down a good foot or so. I can see that all the others have had that bit filled in, so no idea why they left mine, but it shouldn't be a hard task.

With one minor problem. A load of bees (not bumble or mason, that's about as far as I can tell) have made themselves a hive right down the bottom of it. I don't want to just fill it in and smother them all, but have no idea how to coax them out to safety - I don't want a foot-deep hole in my lottie long-term.

I know there's a few people on here who know a whole load more about bees than I do (I can write my knowledge on my pinkie-nail, and I have very small hands!) - anyone know what I can do about 'em?

I am only just starting to get into bees, but as a guess you could start a small fire near the hole (not close enough to burn them) and waft the smoke into the hole to encourage them to leave. but you may be better contacting your local bee keeping association and asking them to move them.

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Cheers Chris

Its only a chilli if it burns your mouth

crichmond is right, its hard just to smoke them out. Your best bet would be to contact local council, or bee keepers if you know of any!
Please keep me posted as to how you get on.

Thanks to both of you

I've found details for a "swarm coordinator" in my area - just going to head up the lottie, make sure they're still there so as to save a wasted trip if they've moved on for any reason, and give her a call.

talking of bees - sorry for jumping in on your 'fred' Oh Eight Legged One

There is a huge (and I'm talking huge) swarm of them around my chimney. Should I:
a) be worried
b) call someone
c) start collecting the honey

Snowdrop seems to think it is a swarm of 'boy' bees chasing after Queenie for a bit of yanar - but he is a Copper not a Bee Keeper!

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Suzie

On the chimney is not so bad they will not want to live on the outside....Inside the chimney maybe See what they are up to tomorrow. They would normally find a place to 'roost' for want of a better term, the queen stays with the main swarm whilst others look for a new home, when found the whole swarm will move off! It could be that they will be gone by morning (if night is cool) or maybe in a couple of days if nights are hot!
If you are worried Piskie I have the number of the Witney swarm controller he will be able to give much better advice.

Not at all piskie - do feel free!

Have just spoken to the local swarm coordinator, and she reckons to just leave 'em and dig elsewhere, then fill in the hole when they die off later in the year - I'll be doing that then, and getting some bee-happy plants planted asap!