Bees - should I 'bee' concerned?

[SecondaryBurnzzz]

Hello! I have a small garden, and have just created a pond area at the bottom of the garden. Right where I sit and peer at the water, I have noticed that a number of bees are disappearing into the ground. There's about 6 of them. Are they likely to build a massive colony and, or are they just going to go about their business without bothering me. I had planned to but the new compost bin where they are - is there any way I could encourage them to move next door? I have spent all of my gardening (ahem) 'career' trying to encourage bees, so don't want to harm them. Any advice?
What do you think?

I don’t think wild bees make massive colonies. I think you are lucky to have some wild bees, other people try to buy them and they wont survive the year as they have inhospitable gardens.
Colonies shut down at the end of the year anyway, depending on species so i think you have nothing to worry about, even if it is bumblebees rather than bees.
I thought wild bees and bumblebees preferred dry ground, uncultivated,for nest entrances, I am surprised it is so close to a pond.

As far as I know, the types of bees that burrow do not form large colonies.

Mining Bees are further down this page

no need to be concerned.
wild bees are mostly solitary or have very small colonies.

just leave them bee and enjoy observing them.

Thanks both.
stella the pond is new, so the bees may not have noticed it yet. also it's a pond liner so no risk of the soil becoming boggy.

bertie i like the idea of miner bees. I assume that they have found local nectar sites and not just relying on my. I only have 5 flowering plants in the garden so far!

So I'll leave them to it then, and hope they don't decide to go 'killer' on me. :D

If your garden has wild bees it must bee very hospitable, I'm a little jealous. I only have a concrete terrace (and I know how lucky I am to have that much in lockdown but now I'm fantasizing about a cold beer by your pond )

It’s pretty basic at the mo myalsh

You could make your own one out of an old bath or sink... like this

It’s really nice. You could put some plants/sticks at the side to help stragglers. I used to find dead bumblebees in my (rather shallow and a bit sloped) bird water bowls because they couldn’t ’ get out. Was always a shame.

Thank you bluefox do you think they might leave a jar of honey out for me from time to time?

Thanks everyone, you have put my mind at rest.

Stella I have added some native pond plants (which arrived today) and made a little ramp from the pots to the edge of the pond using long flat stones. Hopefully there won't be any deaths.

I am longing to go to the garden centre and buy some pond plants too. I have a “lounging pond” that the frog cools itself in, I dont have any water plants though but some weeds dropping into it and happy clumps of grass growing in it. I am not a good pond builder but I have a toddler and am afraid. But before this mini pond, in previous summers I found some frogs/toads dried on the lawn which was unpleasant :( at least they have emergency refreshments.

It’s looking great. Is there a way for hedgehogs etc to climb out?

I don’t think the bees will be any bother, I have spent all day making homes to encourage them to move in!

Yes there is a little bridge, I'll take a photo and upload it tomorrow - it looks slightly better with plants in it :D

I have small-pond envy now

Better pic here now

I have a couple of these bees that come back every year, never a problem and I'm sure there's only one per burrow, I think their solitary so think you can leave them alone and you might find they return every year too xx

I have a bumblebee nest in my compost and. I googled and found that they will be gone by October so we will coexist til then.

I've just set up a bee watering station near a plant they love, hopefully it'll get some custom this morning, it cost less then £5

It looks very colourful - lucky bees 🐝 What is it made of?

You can make them with marbles in a bowl too. Ive used some sea glass to make mine and I've put it near the lavender where the bees party like its Ibiza.

Do they oook like bumbles ? I've had them nest under a piece of cardboard and just let them bee until they left

I've also got mining bees in my front garden and they have taken over, I just leave that area if ground alone when they're abourt