Sharing outdoor space with wildlife, especially bumblebees, was the aim of Trust BeeWalker Steve Hull. Steve shares his journey to encourage a range of wildlife, including bumblebees to his garden and the survival of a bumblebee nest dug up by a badger…
Since I first moved to Forres, Morayshire in 2005, one of my main aims has been to encourage a range of wildlife to share my garden with me. I’ve used a mix of trees, shrubs and flowers, some native and some not and log piles, stick piles and piles of leaves tucked into corners under the shrubs, to maximise the habitat value.
I have also dug a large pond with extensive marginal vegetation including Water mint, Yellow flag iris, Purple loosestrife and Devil’s bit scabious that the bumblebees find attractive.
I made hibernacula (you can find plenty on line about amphibian hibernacula) for the frogs, toads and newts, which have also been used by small mammals and have the potential to be used as bumblebee nest sites.
It isn’t always easy to see if bumblebees are nesting in the hibernacula or under the log and stick piles, as one can’t see them from all angles, but the potential is there.
I soon started putting up wooden nest boxes with a bumblebee sized hole furnished with old nesting material from bird boxes (mouse nest material being more difficult to find). These have had some success mostly with the Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) until 2020 when I was surprised by the arrival to one box of Tree bumblebees (Bombus hypnorum). This species has now used that particular nest box for three years running.
One year, I dug a hole by the side of the greenhouse and filled with bird nest material and placed a rock over it for shelter with a pipe for access, and the Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) used it. When I lifted the rock in autumn to change the bedding, I found the nest site bare but another tunnel went under the greenhouse where the bumblebees must have made their nest. I couldn’t reach the old nest to change the bedding. I have to give the local mice the credit for extending the tunnel and presumably moving the bird nest material to a dryer and more secure place.
I got another surprise this year when a nest box often used by the Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum), was used by a White-tailed species, none of which I would expect to nest above ground, but they kept shooting in and out of the box so fast that I couldn’t identify them properly! I eventually caught one coming out and got some photos of the Garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) worker. I should have been more patient, as the males began to come out much more slowly, often sitting in the entrance looking out and giving me good views and photos.
Another first for me this year was a Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) nest in a largish hole I dug in the ground and furnished with bird nest material, covered with two slightly cracked concrete roof tiles, turf and a pipe to the surface. Again, I probably have to share the credit with the mice, as the bumblebees don’t use my hole, but go in and out in a different place. This has been my favourite nest to watch as it has been so busy and populous. Sometimes I’ve seen workers chewing off blades of grass, to facilitate access I presume.
This nest was at one point dug up by a badger. I covered what remained of the nest with old pond liner and chicken wire weighed down with stones and wood. After a few days of confusion, they settled back down and resumed foraging for remaining larvae. They kept going for another ten days or so and managed to bring up at least one young queen for next year.
I have kept meaning to get a large terracotta flower pot to make a nest site as described on Trust website. I tried it with a plastic flower pot once but they didn’t seem to like that, guess the insulation wouldn’t be so good? It would be easier to clean out at the end of the season.
At the other end of the garden there is a plastic green cone that the council used to supply to residents with the idea that pet faeces and waste food could be collected to reduce landfill, though I use it mostly for some perennial weeds that can’t be composted normally. It has a basket buried under the ground which should be inaccessible once the lid’s closed but the Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) have nested below it before and I’ve also found a hazel nut store under the closed lid, so guess mice are once more the providers of the nest material!
At one point, I opened the tightly closed lid and found four Buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) trying to get out, that must have presumably taken a wrong turning. I let them out and wedged it open slightly. I did not find their normal entrance hole but it’s a rather overgrown and inaccessible part of the garden so assume it must be there somewhere. This was a classic example of how confusing human artefacts can be to wildlife. The translucence of the plastic must have convinced them that the only way to get out was up.
I’ve tried digging holes under paving slabs three times and put in bedding to make nest sites, but so far no success, though I’ve seen them nesting in similar places in other gardens without my help. I have read somewhere that the Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) likes being under big rocks, so thought they might like that.
I used to wonder what bumblebees might make of bird nesting material underground as it might seem unnatural and confuse their instincts, but then read that coal tits often nest in holes in the ground. Also, I suspect that mice and voles have often helped by adding their own scent to bird nest material that I’ve buried. It would be good to know someone with a hamster to see if that works as well.
I’m grateful to the mice and voles for their help but also grateful to a weasel (or weasels) that visits the garden sometimes preying on them and moving them on and leaving nests vacant for bumblebees.
From the pungent musky smell often coming from under the shed, I suspect it is a favourite place for the weasel. I read somewhere that the Garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) like to nest under sheds. Maybe a weasel is why they are using the nest box on the shed rather than nesting under the shed.
If anyone is passing by who is very familiar with weasels they are welcome to come and sniff my shed to verify if my supposition is correct…
