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 :(

I'm not sure what you can do other than adding attractive plants to keep them busy.

Just post in your local Facebook group, someone will know who your local bee keeper is. If they can’t take them they will know what to do. I’d be freaking out too. I have a terrible fear of wasps so anything buzzing freaks me out. It is just horrible and a real fear.

Are you sure they aren't wasps op? What you are describing is very unusual behaviour for bees.

Well surely both understand don't touch, don't go near, it's all fine, they are just interested when we walk by. That is their space for now and this is our space.

Are you not out in the garden with them?

My bumblebees just circle around us soing "errrm what are you? Why are you?" Confused thing. Then the go to plants.
Aa far as I know stings from bumblbees are really rare

Unheard of, you can pick bumbles up.

What the OP is describing is wasps.

We had bumble bees in the ground right next to our front door - never bothered anyone.

I've never seen a bumble bee attacking anyone!

Bet you're glad you posted OP, it's always nice to get to get a grip and be accused of lying/exaggerating when you've just asked for a bit of advice isn't it?

I have a child with autism and this would scare her witless too. Hope someone helps you out.

Can you get a photo of one OP? This is bizarre behaviour for bumble bees. I'd believe it of other species and expect it of evil flying death monkeys wasps but its almost unheardbof for bumble bees to attack without a LOT of provocation.

They generally leave you alone but will defend their nest like all bees will.

You could reroute the entrance to the nest so that it's out of the way (higher up, maybe?)

@Kerrrmieee do you even have kids and do you understand what autistic non verbal means? The bees nest is literally right outside the door and we have to walk past it to use the garden, which we can't at the moment as the moment we approach they follow suit. The bees own the space, so it's not like we can't tell them it's too crawl so they don't see us. And yes I'm there too, being attached and trying to protect the kids, what made you think I'm elsewhere?

@gamerchick they are big and rounder and fluffy, wasps I believe are slimmer?

I'm intrigued OP. Bumbles are non-aggressive and rarely sting, and are mostly solitary. I'm not sure ground/miner bees CAN even sting (if they do its mild I thought, we had some in our garden and my dog - who tends to collapse like a drama queen when stung - was rather taken with them). I think honey bees will sting if threatened but it would be unusual.

I guess if you had a wasps nest in the ground by the back door the responses would be different...we had to zap one in the eaves last summer.

A call to a beekeeper with a picture is worth a try?

Bees generally don't "attack" people. Just go about your daily lives and eventually they will move on.

Can you post a picture of one of them op so we can id them? Bumbles are rarely aggressive, and there’s usually very few in a nest. I’m wondering if you’ve got a type of mining bee.

Look up carder bee - I think they are more prone to being aggressive. They are fluffy too.

This you @Kerrrmieee

I'd just like to say that I'm sorry for telling you to get a grip and that they are just bees. I absolutely love bees and can get very defensive about them. I'm the mumsnet equivalent of one of your aggressive bees.

I hope you manage to move them along somewhere else soon. To atone for being so horrible earlier, here is a link to a website that tells you more about bumble bee nests and how to cope with them, I hope it's useful:

www.bumblebeeconservation.org/bumblebee-nests/

OP first you need to establish what you have actually got!

Wasps - unlikely as they dont usually nest in the ground, but most likely to be aggressive. Not fluffy, bright yellow and black.

Honeybees - small, narrow fluffy. a non-native domestic species kept for honey production. Not in need of protection, they are not rare wildlife. These are the only kind bee keepers will be interested in. They dont usually nest in the ground but can, and will sting if disturbed.

Solitary and mining bees - hundreds of species of these, some sting some dont, generally very small and will nest individually in holes in the ground. Doesnt sound like what you've got. These are wildlife and should be protected.

Bumblebees (including carder bees). 27 odd species of these important wild species, these are the ones we need to be looking out for. They are fat, fluffy, slow, non aggressive but will defend nests, which can be in or on the ground and in tufts of grass. Lack of nesting sites is a major contributor to their decline! It is possible to move them if that really is your last option www.buzzaboutbees.net/bee-nest-removal-bumblebee.html

This is really sad. My parents have what appears to be a bumble bee nest and we sit in the garden literally 6ft from the nest and they don’t bother us. DC are enjoying watching them buzzing about. Last year we had wasps in the porch and just ignored them until they moved on. I have no idea why people insist on killing our pollinators?

I love how everyone is telling the op they are wrong and should just ignore what she has experienced!

Have you tried social media yet? I see a few posts asking for help with bees and there has been help offered.

I'd like pictures though! Plenty of Bee experts on here to give you further advice!

Bumble bees are social and live in colonies. They nest in the ground or in walls, holes etc.
Miner bees, mentioned by a pp, are solitary but often make holes where there are other miner bees. They do not sting. If these are stinging they are not miner bees.
OP Sometimes bumbles will buzz around you if you are very near the nest entrance, but so many stings ? They die if they sting and they aren’t normally aggressive at all. Are you sure your children have been stung by the bumbles and not by something else like a wasp ?

Wasps do frequently nest in the ground. Badgers will dig up the whole nest and eat it !