To be pissed off with bees terrorising my garden

[InsomniacVampire]

While mowing the grass, we found out we have a bumblebee nest in the garden- in the gorund, which I didnt even know is a thing. Not at the very far end where we dont use much anyways, but right at the very beginning of it, near the kitchen door. We cant use the garden at all, as contrary to what uncle Google says, they attack kids and me whenever we approach.
How do I get rid (I know I know bees are the future, but I want my garden!). it's hot, kids are going mental inside, and we're stuck inside as we can't use the garden because of mental bees. And it takes months for them to move nests :(

Ground bees are usually docile, and don’t stay long.

they are usually in a sheltered spot (we have a few nests under the trampoline, but ours are rarely seen unless you disturb them).

apparently if you need to discourage them give them a good water and they’ll move somewhere drier.

This ^ ^
and Good luck!

Nuke them from orbit; the only way to be sure😉

I always thought bumble bees were solitary and only honey bees lived in hives - however I do appreciate there are several species in the UK. 🐝

They really shouldn't cause you trouble, if you don't disturb them first

yes, make sure they’re bees!

they may be flying around atm because you’ve disturbed them. I didn’t know ours were there until I mowed the lawn. They buzzed around a bit then went back to their low key ways. I leave mine to get on with it :)

Some of these responses are crazy, it’s like the love of trees that we see where you’re supposed to endanger yourself and you’re loved ones or comprise your safety and life for them. No you aren’t.

op, contact a local bee keepers association and ask for advice, if they can’t be moved you will need to eradicate. Use a trained official from bcpa who can advise.

bpca.org.uk/pest-aware/bee-control-how-to-get-rid-of-bees-bpca-a-z-of-pests/189185

When you say they attack what are they actually doing?
Buzzing around you or stinging?

Please don't kill them!

Op if they are in the ground they ar e likely miner bees. This link says rhey dislike wet ground, so wet the area repeatedly and keep it wet and rhey will move off.

newgarden.com/notes/ground-nesting-bees

When you say attack, what are they doing? They are a bit dim and tend to fly into stuff / people, but I've never known bumble bees to go out of their way to sting anyone.

I can see they would if you were actually disturbing the nest, or while you were mowing the lawn in very close proximity. But not if you're just out in the garden ignoring them - is it just that there are lots of them milling about or are they being aggressive and stinging?

They do do that thing where they hover directly in front of your face and try to see into your soul (or whatever, not sure what they're doing but it seems very intense!) which could be misconstrued.

I was attacked by a swarm of bees when I was 11. Their Queen had disappeared apparently and they went all hunter killer. My mum picked 37 stings out of my head.

They are not bumble bees.

This ^ ^ also!
@AngelicaElizaAndPeggy I very much doubt that if you had a garden and any sort of stinging or biting creature set up home just beside where you need to access your garden, that you would just stay indoors the whole time - or brave the garden anyway.

@InsomniacVampire Whatever other Mumsnetters might say, I don't believe that any of them would just let the bees stay there, especially if they have children.
If you can't find anyone else then phone your local council, they will have someone who can deal with this, and hopefully without killing the bees!

I had a nest in my raised bed, I wasn't bothered for myself but the cats were obsessed with them!
called the local bee people who say they will move nests, anyway he said the actual nest could be metres from the entrance & it would be a real job to try & dig it out, explained about the cats, he said they won't go too close!

Sure enough he was right, they sat & watched them coming & going but never went too close even though they chased other bees in the garden! Fascinating!

Anyway they seem to have vacated now! 🤷‍♀️

If they're in the ground, they might be carder bees. I had a nest in my garden a few years ago. I only found it when l was mowing the grass.
Contact a beekeeper, OP, as PP have suggested.

They follow a flight path. If you cut down and disturb their way back to the hole they will get lost and mill around lost.

We have bees living in the lawn, have had them for years and can say that I have never even stung despite walking bare foot, my kids have never been stung either. I have never seen a bee attack, bees only sting when they feel they are in danger. Teach your kids to respect wildlife, make sure they wear shoes whilst outside if your worried because that the only likely way they will get stung (if they step on one).

It's hoverflies that do that staring into your soul thing - I always imagine them to be aliens trying to work us humans out.

Bumble bees aren't aggressive - big fuzzy teddy bears of the bee world.

I'm sure you can quietly walk past the nest to another area of the garden.

Bee keepers don't want bumbles.

The only time a bumble has stung me was when I tried on it barefoot the poor thing.

Wasps on the other hand - I recommend a grenade.

*trod on it, not tried on it.

I didn't try it on with it either.

Also this is the perfect opportunity to teach your kids that they aren't interested in them. Just leave them be and they will do the same.

Remaining locked indoors is a phobia in the making.

@GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut they stung my little one a few times when he was passing by. My kids like to run around but won't understand "stay within a meter of the door" or "only run on the left side if the garden" so they want to run around the garden, as kids would, and the bees do chase them. I went to get them out today and they did follow us sorry back to the door. My oldest one is autistic and it's not safe for him at all, he finds it funny at first but when he got stung we ended up with a massive meltdown as he didn't understand why it hurt him.

@Kerrrmieee my younger one is 15 month's old, how am I meant to teach him that? And my nonverbal 5 yo? And also, we need to pass by their nest and they definitely don't leave us alone as we walk by!!!

@Lovemusic33 then we have some mutants in there as my lil one got stung minding his own business playing in water play tray. And please do share how to teach an active 15 month's old how to stay wait away 3 meters away from the nest 😉

Bumble bees? Those cute stripy fluffy chubsters? Wow. Didn’t realise they could be aggressive.. I usually chase them round the garden trying to pet them! They seem quite friendly, happily bumbling around the lavender…