Overhanging tree from neighbours and bees nest

[Adhdmum2]

At the bottom of our garden is an overhanging large bush/tree. It's beautiful so I'm not bothered about the tree itself, however this is a bees nest inside it. It means I can't access the shed (which houses our rabbits) very easily partly due to fear and partly due to not wanting to disturb the bees. The main problem though is that our daughter is allergic to bee stings. She is 4.

Where do I stand with the neighbours and getting it removed? If I point it out to the neighbours is it reasonable to expect them to get it removed or do I need to contact a bee keeper? Without proofing about there's no way of knowing if the nest itself is on our side of the fence or theirs. I don't want to go round there and say anything if it's perfectly acceptable to have a bees nest. So where do I stand with contacting them and asking them to get it removed or if they mind us getting it removed?
If I contact a local bee keeper and they come to remove it from our side but the nest ends up being on their side I don't want there to be an issue if they don't know about it.
How would you react if your neighbour politely came to chat about the bees in the bush?!

In the UK, bees and their nests are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This legislation makes it an offense to intentionally destroy, damage, or disturb a wild bees nest. The act recognizes the importance of bees in maintaining biodiversity and aims to safeguard their habitats.
If you encounter a bees nest on your property and believe it poses a threat, it is essential to handle the situation with care. Contacting a local beekeeper or pest control professional is advisable to assess the situation and explore non-destructive solutions. Taking matters into your own hands and destroying the nest without proper authorization can lead to legal consequences.

Tell your daughter to stay away from the very bottom of the garden?

I would contact local beekeepers for advice, and chat to the neighbour. If you want it removed and that has a cost I’d expect you to pay (I would be relaxed about a bees nest in a tree in my garden, though I totally understand why you are not give your 4 year old’s allergy and would also want it removed in your shoes).

unless the neighbour has form for being very unfriendly, i think most people would be perfectly happy to discuss this. If it is at least partially in their garden I do think you should chat to them before getting anyone to come out

What is your relationship like with said neighbours?

There are a lot of bees swarming at the moment. A friend of mine walked into one recently in the middle of a big town centre,on the side of a building. They normally move off of their own accord after a couple of days. However,if you know the neighbour,yes,pop round,say you are very concerned because of your DD health issues,if they are in agreement, perhaps you could both go halves with the cost of a bee keeper.

Definitely speak to your neighbour and ask them if they mind you contacting a local beekeeper. There are "swarm lists" on the internet, sometimes on Facebook, but you could also look on the website of the British Beekeeping Association
https://www.bbka.org.uk/find-a-local-swarm-collector?srsltid=AfmBOorkOERbcW3gGj_y9P4YUIyNCILjtTgmpRYWmmGeLjQPb05X31wQ

(I keep bees with my partner, and, as we're on a swarm list, we've been contacted several times this spring already!)

Also, you may be able to get a beekeeper to do this for free, or next to nothing (we always do it for nothing) because the BK will get a brand new colony out of it, most likely, and therefore expand their stock. For context, a full colony of bees, ready to go with a clipped queen can set you back around £250, so it does very much feel like a mutual favour.

Thanks for the replies.
We don't know the neighbours as they are behind us so essentially a different street but other mutual neighbours have said they are friendly.

I wouldn't ever dream of destroying the nest, we need bees in our gardens for so many reasons and usually I would leave it alone!

We have fenced off the bottom half of the garden so DD doesn't go near however it's a new build so really bloody small and bees tend to fly!

I've just posted on our local FB group asking for bee keepers advise so will also look at the above link, thank you so much!

I'll pop round to them this afternoon and have a chat. I'm happy to foot the bill if there is one to get it moved on but would much rather the bees be moved than 'dealt with' as it were. The bees have done nothing wrong!!

That's really interesting. I never realised you had to buy them. Does that mean people breed bees for beekeepers? I thought you just set up the hive and waited for them to find it. 😀

When I had an allotment one of the blokes kept bees. He had to order a new queen bee. It came in a tiny box with a thick honey/wax lid so the other bees had to eat it away and in that time could get used to the smell of the queen and didn't attack her. (I'm sure I didn't imagine it.)

Help for daughter and those allergic
My mother and brother were allergic to bee stings and my father was a bee keeper.
My main tip for anyone encountering a bee.. is to not swat it or attempt to hit it. They get angry and will definitely sting.
Move away in as quickly as you can, utilise any trees, bushes to circle around to lose them or flying insects. I repeat. Do not swat at or attempt to swat/hit a bee. It will sting.
Regarding swarms of bees in May, it is extremely rare that they sting (they’re looking for a new home at this time) they will fly past. It is a most unusual event.
I have had hundreds of bees crawling on me during a collection of a swarm and never got stung.

I live rurally and we have a few Bee Keepers just in our village, they would be banging on your door for them. Facebook shout was a very good idea also you could try to find your local Bee Keepers club op

We had bees swarming in a tree very close to our bedroom window. I did try to contact a beekeeper to come and take it, but before anyone responded, they’d all gone off to a new home. I gather that they send ‘scouts’ out to find somewhere. I dare say yours will be gone soon.