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AIBU?

Beehives in neighbours garden

205 replies

Hdpsbfb · 20/05/2022 06:03

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.

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Am I being unreasonable?

513 votes. Final results.

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You are being unreasonable
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You are NOT being unreasonable
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ThackeryBinks · 20/05/2022 12:35

I'm not that keen about putting bees into normal sized gardens as bees are unpredictable. Some beehives have good friendly queens which make friendly bees and others can be downright grumpy. If the bees are swarming then I wonder just how experienced your beekeeping neighbour is? It is possible to manipulate the bees into not swarming. Although that said I think it feels like a swarmy year as it's warm & wet. Make sure you are fully loaded for antihistamine & antihistamine cream.

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LookItsMeAgain · 20/05/2022 12:38

Lemons1571 · 20/05/2022 06:50

This would terrify me. Yes, bees are good for the ecosystem. But would all of you really be happy with your toddler playing in a padding pool with hundreds of bees hovering above the water around them. I mean, really? Wouldn’t the garden become unusable?

I think there’s a place for bee hives and a small suburban garden one metre from children's play equipment isn’t it.

Just to clarify something here.

Bees are not just good for the ecosystem, they are actually essential for the eco system.

Hives 1m away from a garden fence is just as good a place for them as any. They would be pollenating your plants if you have/had them, let them be (pun intended) and they will keep doing what they do best.

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ChoiceMummy · 20/05/2022 12:41

@Hdpsbfb
Have you checked the zoning bylaws for your area? Beehives in gardens are not pernitted in all areas. Some rules state must be certain distances from neighbours etc.

I'd also alert the council regarding the playground as that's a potential issue there too.

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MangyInseam · 20/05/2022 12:54

Talk to your neighbour about another water source for the bees so they aren't coming to the pool so much.

Bee swarms don't tend to sting as they have no home to protect.

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bloodyunicorns · 20/05/2022 13:37

Two things strike me:

  1. You can keep bees (a good thing)
  2. And you can also be a dick (lying about bees to keep kids quiet, exaggerating the threat of the bees to worry you)


Is it her or her h who keeps the bees? If he is more reasonable, could you talk to him? Ask him where the flight paths are to and from his hives.
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godmum56 · 20/05/2022 13:40

VapeVamp12 · 20/05/2022 11:30

"I would speak to your council and ask about rules governing bee keeping in domestic gardens."

It's allowed.

It may not be.....local councils can enact by laws to prevent it, the OP could check.

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Lemons1571 · 20/05/2022 15:55

LookItsMeAgain · 20/05/2022 12:38

Just to clarify something here.

Bees are not just good for the ecosystem, they are actually essential for the eco system.

Hives 1m away from a garden fence is just as good a place for them as any. They would be pollenating your plants if you have/had them, let them be (pun intended) and they will keep doing what they do best.

If it’s true that hives in a small suburban garden, very near children and other people, are not any kind of problem whatsoever,, why would some local councils have laws against them?

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Stompythedinosaur · 20/05/2022 16:00

If it’s true that hives in a small suburban garden, very near children and other people, are not any kind of problem whatsoever,, why would some local councils have laws against them?

You could equally day that, if bees are a problem, why do many areas not have rules against them?

The answer is that councils are made of individuals, with different levels of knowledge and different views.

When I became a beekeeper, I was amazed to discover which of my neighbours kept bees. I would never have guessed, because they caused no issues. But as this thread has demonstrated, people can be worried about bees and not want them around.

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sueelleker · 20/05/2022 16:18

TheEnemy123 · 20/05/2022 12:09

I'm calling bullsh!t on this one, sorry. Bees are gentle creatures and don't sting unless threatened. I hate when people try to make out they're just flying around looking for people to sting!

I got stung out of nowhere once. Walking along the seafront, a bee landed on my wrist and randomly stung me. No provocation at all.

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SarahSissions · 20/05/2022 16:34

I’d rather have bees next door than pissed if neighbours.

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Branleuse · 20/05/2022 16:48

Lemons1571 · 20/05/2022 15:55

If it’s true that hives in a small suburban garden, very near children and other people, are not any kind of problem whatsoever,, why would some local councils have laws against them?

do they??

We had honeybees in a hole in our wall the other summer. They caused no issue. Noone got stung. Bees are generally pretty docile. I think your neighbours are winding you up

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agent765 · 20/05/2022 17:42

Our NDN has a few hives. We grow bee-friendly plants and get a few jars of honey every year. We've never had any problems or seen a swarm, though we were warned it happens infrequently.

We spend a lot of time in the garden and have never been bothered or stung by bees.

I've been stung repeatedly by a wasp that got up my trouser leg, though. They're just nasty fuckers and will follow you around just to sting. A Waspinator was hung and numbers did decrease last year.

I'm amazed at how many people don't know the difference between bees and wasps. We had a wasp nest in our garage that we didn't know about a few years ago. My brother went in to borrow some tools, knocked the nest when he opened the door and was chased and repeatedly stung. I'd wondered why wasps were buzzing around the back door light at the time. I never admitted that to my brother, though.

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Floofboopsnootandbork · 20/05/2022 17:51

sueelleker · 20/05/2022 16:18

I got stung out of nowhere once. Walking along the seafront, a bee landed on my wrist and randomly stung me. No provocation at all.

That most likely wasn’t a bee then. Once a bee stings it dies so don’t do unless they have to.

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Saz12 · 20/05/2022 18:10

I keep bees.

your neighbours are lying about the children’s-noises issue.
the story of the tree is also nonesense - they’ll fly to it, visit the flowers and fly home again. Likely the flowers are mostly above head-height so they’ll not be buzzing around you. And unlikely the tree will flower for that long anyway! I’m guessing this tree casts shade into their garden...? You could be a nasty devious arse and mention you’ll be planting a lovely tall row
of “those great quick growing confers people seem to love to hate”

if the pond use annoys you, tell them and suggest they add water source in their own garden. It’s actually unlikely they’ll visit a paddling pool once they’re used to knowing where the pond is.

A swarm is when a bunch of them are leaving to set up a new colony, it’s an amazing sight with several thousand bees. They really honestly won’t sting when swarming (but can be an overwhelming sight!). If they’re well managed they really shouldn’t be swarming. There’s no reason why a non-beekeeper would know that a smaller group of bees (eg 50 visiting a pond for water) isn’t called a swarm, but if you say “swarming our pond” to your neighbours they’ll just divert the conversation to tell you why that’s not what’s happening.

I don’t massively disapprove of people keeping bees in biggish gardens, so long as they select the queen for peaceful and calm behaviour and are conscientious and able... but your neighbours sound mean!

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20viona · 20/05/2022 18:11

That's my idea of hell I'd have to move 🤣

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Binsk · 20/05/2022 18:18

Someone in our area has this set-up, they have a small business selling honey.
I have young kids and I honestly don't think it would bother me. I don't imagine the bees are going to randomly attack, or gather round a paddling pool for water when they have a pond close by.
Why not wait and see what happens? Then if a problem does arise, by all means raise it with the neighbours. But right now it's all "what if...?"

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SgurrNaCìche · 20/05/2022 19:31

Swarms are like gold dust around here with the current price of bees. If you ever get a swarm you'll have loads of people offering to collect them from you.
Bees like ponds not paddling pools (no easy way to drink from a paddling pool).
I lived in the same garden as thousands and thousands of bees. Only stung once in my entire life and that was because I sadly sat on it and squashed it.

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Lalliella · 21/05/2022 00:12

Floofboopsnootandbork · 20/05/2022 17:51

That most likely wasn’t a bee then. Once a bee stings it dies so don’t do unless they have to.

A farmer near us keeps bees in hives in a field. I went to have a look with my friend, we were t even that close and a bee stung her. They do sting without provocation, it’s just quite rare. I wouldn’t want them next door to a toddler tbh.

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Lalliella · 21/05/2022 00:13

*weren’t

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TruthHertz · 21/05/2022 00:20

I like bees and understand their ecological importance, but there's a difference between a few hers foraging for nectar and a whole swarm guardian a nest a few metres from where your kids play.

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Catsrus · 21/05/2022 07:53

IcakethereforeIam · 20/05/2022 08:16

I always understood swarming bees were quite docile, and, I believe quite valuable! Who does the swarming belong to? Could you flog it to a beekeeper? On bee-bay?

Also, let's hear some more love for wasps, also pollinate and eat garden pests too. Only really a nuisance in late summer when they become sugar junkies.

We've got bumblebees nesting behind an airbrick. Can hear them buzzing as they come and go. It's quite restful.

I kept bees for about 10yrs - swarming bees are an amazing sight - they don't sting - they are just looking for a new home.

You are no more likely to get stung by next doors bees than you are by bees who live a mile away. Just teach your children to be calm and not panic when around a bee.

The only time I was ever stung, in 10yrs, when when I messed up retrieving a swarm from a tree and getting it into a box. I've dealt with other swarms with no stings. If you know what you are doing, and you have nice friendly bees, you don't even have to wear protective gear.

Bees don't want to sting you - they die when they do (unlike wasps!)

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onlythreenow · 21/05/2022 07:58

My previous neighbour had several bee hives. I loved seeing the bees in my garden, and while a couple of times I arrived home to find a swarm in my driveway it didn't bother me at all. Surely you understand how important bees are to humans? If you leave them alone they won't bother you. The only time I have been stung in years is where I live now - no beehives in this neighbourhood!

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Bobbins36 · 21/05/2022 09:07

Hdpsbfb · 20/05/2022 08:41

I genuinely didn't think asking to see a neighbours garden was a thing when viewing a house.

Always worth a look out of an upstairs window to check out the next doors 👍🤣

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GlamGiraffe · 21/05/2022 10:50

Until this year my son was a beekeper at a local school (he's moved away), its one of at least two schools nearby with a number of hives.
He looked after four hives in the infant school field, next to the play area of 80 to 100 childen with climbing frames etc and lots of very noisy riotous behaviour. No killer bee attacks. He didnt even wear a veil or suit when he opened his hives, his bees "knew him' and trusted him. They arent bothered by calm behaviour even when entering their hive; he's never been stung, even though he opened and checked the hive weekly. I suspect the stinging incident your neighbour refers to is a case of being very close to the hive, or even having it open and displaying loud,flappy, not calm behaviour in the immediate presence of their home. A few feet away and they wouldnt have cared.
The school where my sons bees are is also surrounded by woodland. There seems to be no strange issues because of all the trees. Bees fly miles daily.
Obviously a school has had extensive risk assessments, hives in such close proximity to so many children aren't considered dangerous by all the relevant authorities.

  1. You neighbour is an idiot
  2. I worry the bee incident may be the tip of the iceberg relating to idiot status behaviour.

I appreciate they are scary if you arent used to them.
Try just being outside and see what its like. What is your garden actually like in terms of plants and style and plants etc?
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Goosey1234 · 22/05/2022 22:03

YABU. You're being incredibly dramatic.

Hives do split off and bees swarm around this time of year, when they settle a local beekeeper will happily collect them, it won't continue all year

We live in the country on a farm, but we have bees in a corner of our garden, the kids pirate ship is 5 meters from it, their swimming pool 20 meters from it. The bees never bother them and we simply leave exit platforms for them in the pool for after they've drank so they don't drown. The bees never go near it when they're screaming and shouting in it, they're not stupid they know when to steer clear for their own safety. Honey bees die when they sting, so that is their absolute last resort, they have no desire to attack unless they deem it a last resort. In the many years we've had bees only one of our children has ever been stung and only the once. They run, scream and shout all around by the hive (it's penned off but just with fencing) and they are in the pool all the time playing.

When we have a BBQ they often come mooching, but we just ignore them, they've never stung anyone.

We need as many bees as possible right now, their numbers are in decline we we desperately need the pollinators. Your neighbors have every right to keep their bees.

Oh and leave the tree and instead teach your kids (and yourself) to ignore them and not panic, the bees will not bother you if you learn not to be scared of them. They'll leave you be.

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