Beehives in neighbours garden

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Moved into a new house. I am unable to see the neighbours garden due to the layout. I discovered a few weeks after moving in they have two beehives. Already I have seen two massive swarms of bees. Thousands of them for two days. Had to close all the windows and doors. If you've never seen a swarm before it can be terrifying when it's right by your house.

The small pond has around fifty around it at any given time. Already I'm thinking having a medium sized padding pool up for the kids is going to be a no-no as I'd rather not have dozens of bees hovering about using it as a water source.

Also, the woman told my DH that they get irritated by noise and that on one occasion when their son shouted something, her husband was stung a dozen noise. Where the beehives are is metres away from a children's play area to was insitu when we moved in. Already although my child is a baby I'd be terrified of letting her play down that area where the swings are as all young children can make loud unpredictable noises from time to time. Oh she also told me that we would need to get rid of a tree as it attracts bees.

We have a nest of digger bees in the garden, and the only problem they’ve ever given us is trying to rescue the occasional one from our house 😂 we’ve used the garden plenty including with a paddling pool and never been stung (even the dog who tries to eat them 😂) we also have a very bee friendly garden so get lots of bumbles (my favourite 😍) and again never had an issue.

use your garden and if it becomes and issue speak to your neighbours.

I think your neighbour is joking with you. Bees wont bother any of you

It is funny how people who deal with bees by their own choice (or their families) say the OP is overreacting. It has similar validity as when owner of approaching dog says "he is just playing" - it is great that you are ok with your pets/animals, but it automatically doesn't mean it is reasonable within given conditions.
We don't know whether the location is actually ok for beekeeping. It might be, it might not.

How I understood the loud noise remark, their child shouted and her DH got stung, so probably was just in the middle of close dealing with the bees - not your problem.

It is hard realization about a new home. Fingers crossed it will turn out well, and it will be just a few days in a year.

I was prepared for a few bees to bump off me, as their movements can seem so erratic to humans. But not a single one did. Instead, I was given 30-50cm space at all times.

It was mad and rather lovely, in the end

That’s incredible.

Our neighbours used to have a beehive in their garden and we never noticed any problems and our children played out all the time in the garden, maybe a few more bees on the flowers but that was it and we don't have large gardens.

One thing our neighbour did say is that different colonies have different personalities and some are more aggressive and some more docile. So maybe you have been unlucky in this aspect?

The swarms happen when a hive makes second queen and half the hive leaves with her to set up a new colony. It's usually hundreds, not thousands though. I've seen a few and the sound can be quite scary but they are looking for a new home, not some unsuspecting person to attack.

I agree with this. I live on a small cul de sac in the middle of a housing estate. Most of the gardens are small. I don't live in the country.

We once had a swarm of bees in our garden and it wasn’t terrifying at all, it was fascinating. We googled to find a local beekeeper (there are networks all over the country) and someone just up the road came and put a temporary hive in the garden and got the queen into it. Eventually he took them away.

it was all very non-dramatic and nobody was stung once, despite being out in the garden a lot standing next to the bees whirling around.

(Just noticed that Everydayisaschoolholiday says her dad was one such swarm collector)

OP, I wouldn’t berate you for being anxious - we all have our anxieties and I can understand the desire for you and your kids not to get stung. Your neighbour sounds like an arse too who probably knows her behaviour impacts unfairly upon you and feels defensive.

Have a look at this bee lady on TikTok - her videos are amazing and show how gentle honey bees are. I know this situation is not what you want but could be a great opportunity to overcome your fears and teach your children how to respect and understand small creatures rather than fear them.

vm.tiktok.com/ZMLTbMJB8/?k=1

I can see that the bees really worry you. I’m wondering why? They’re bees. Bees are tiny, eat flowers and live in your neighbours garden. I know they sting, but they aren’t the dangerous, slavering beasts you seem to be making them out to be.

I don’t know how this woman’s husband got stung by dozens of bees, but unless her husband was standing right next to their hive and ranting, I think that’s very unlikely. My mother kept bees, and when we lived in her house, my friend looked after them and they never bothered us. We had birthday parties within metres of their hive, my child played normally, she climbed in the apple tree and bust swings and treehouses (bees love apple blossom) we had a paddling pool. She was never stung. I was once, when offering my friend a cup of tea as she was opening the hives, (i often watched, was only stung the once) I’ve never seen a swarm, it must be fascinating (if slightly inconvenient for a day or two)

There’s no reason to assume you child will be ‘terrified’ of the bees unless you teach them to be terrified of them (which you seem to be). They are just insects, and very beneficial ones at that. You have the opportunity to choose to teach them to be fascinated by these hardworking and essential little creatures.

Might I suggest you learn a little about bees before you decide what to do? They need to drink, but cannot land on water, so need stones or something next to it. A paddling pool will just kill them. Provide a dish full of pebbles and water and they will drink from that. Swarms are their way of multiplying and finding new territory. They may assemble or rest near the hive, if the weather is mixed and they can’t fly off right away, but they won’t settle, because they want to find a new patch. Swarming bees rarely sting, as they are loaded down with honey for the journey. A beekeeper will come and collect them for you (they are quite valuable) and you know where your local one is, don’t you? If they’re all in the a tree, they won’t be bothering you on the ground, will they? Bees are aggressive. They die if the sting you. They will die to defend their hive but if you leave them alone, they’ll leave you alone, unlike wasps which are aggressive, vindictive little sods.

I think really the issue is with the you and the neighbour, not the bees. I’d be delighted. Loads of people keep bees gardens. It’s not a big deal.

That bee lady!!!! That video is very cool.

Thank you so much for sharing this.

I’m severely allergic to the stings and have nearly died on more than one occasion so I would genuinely have to move

This sounds crazy to me, I think your neighbour is winding you up. She wants your kids to shut up and she wants rid of your tree - people get hysterical about trees, they mistake them for triffids.
I've lived next to beehives for years, they don't gather round ponds en masse or trees and I've never once been stung when mowing the lawn or shouting across the garden to my son.
They won't bother you or your children, only once has one of the cats been stung when it actively tried to eat the bee. She learned her lesson.
On the very rare occasion they swarm just stay inside until they have settled. They don't do it often.

Wait until you hang your washing out and find it covered in yellow bee poo!!

I live near a house with about 20 new hives in their garden the car, our windows, garden furniture - all covered in poo. It gets on me if stand still for long enough! Can't hang washing out any more :(

My DF kept bees in our (small suburban) garden and we never had any issues at all. I think you need to be a lot more wary of your neighbours than their bees, OP, she is lying to you about the noise and probably about the tree

Yes, this isn’t good. The beekeeper should hang out a white sheet to protect the neighbours’ washing.

Swarm season is coming to an end so you are unlikely to get another swarm this year. When they swarm they are honey drunk and just want to stay near the queen until they decide on a new home. They aren’t remotely interested in humans.

the bees will be attracted to the pond over a paddling pool because it’s natural rain water with beneficial minerals as opposed to chlorine filled water out the tap.

another thing to consider is the number of insects that mimic bees, both in looks and sounds, there are so many. I often think I’ve spotted a bee but it’s actually a fly!

finally if you are really worried it might be worth increasing the height of your fence which will take the flight path higher so they skip over your garden. Don’t get rid of the tree, trees are one of the best sources of pollen, nectar and propolis for bees not to mention all the other insects and birds that use them. Trees are in flower for such a short period each year (couple of weeks max) it would be awful to get rid of a tree just because it attracts bees for a couple of weeks.

Gosh so many absolutely lovely neighbours on here: "they were made to get rid of it" "report them"

You have been there for weeks and now you're getting all shirty about bees? Talk to the neighbour without complaining and whining and ask if there is any way they can change the set up to minimise bees coming in your garden.

Pond and 2 small DCs? i wouldn't.

It's a good opportunity to teach your children and yourself about bees, isn't it?

Wasps are also pollinators, leave them alone.

Amber Heard’s dog is not a bee fan.
Pretty clear she’s trying to get your kids to be quiet and get the tree taken down. How can you not have considered this?!

If it is 2 tiny gardens there may well be grounds to have the bees moved eg to an allotment the neighbour could get. If it is two large houses and the bee one has fields and land then moving the bees to another area could be the solution.

A swarm of bees in May is worth a load of hay.

A swarm of bees in June is worth a silver spoon.

A swarm of bees in July isn’t worth a fly.

(Above from the 1650s !!!!)

Bees are crucial to the future of humanity. YABU

Is the pond yours?

The children haven't been in the garden much yet, no reason, just haven't. Also I'm unsure why she mentioned the tree as I wouldn't think it would affect her garden in any way.

The person that was stung a dozen times was the woman's husband by her own admission after their son shouted across the garden.

As several people have already pointed out to you, she’s talking bollocks. Bees don’t get angry if you make a noise. They’re bees, not the monsters in A Quiet Place.