![]() Whilst providing a much improved habitat to that of a common beehive, it also allows the bees to live a relatively undisturbed existence and enables them to follow their natural instincts. Inspired by other bee guardians, I came up with my own version of a tree hive which aims to help redress this problem. Tree Beekeeping is a 1000 year old practice of keeping bees in slots, cut high above the ground into living pine, lime and oak trees, akin to natural hives. The homes provided for them are usually found near to the ground in thin walled square boxes which offer little of the benefits of a natural tree cavity. Many mo dern beekeeping methods don't help bees in this department either. They actually tell other bees where the cavity is by dancing on the surface of the swarm. They usually cluster on a limb of a tree for several days while scout bees search for suitable cavities to nest in. ![]() Many of these mature trees have long since disappeare d as humans continue to exploit their surroundings. A swarm of honey bees is many thousands of bees in a cluster shaped like a rugby ball typically found hanging off a tree or fence. When honey bees swarm, the old queen leaves the hive with most of the bees. One of their often favoured places is in the naturally formed cavity of a mature tree, several metres up from the ground.These cavities are formed from where the limb of the tree has fallen away from the main trunk or even the damage caused by a busy woodpecker. You will need a ladder, a beekeeper’s suit, and a bee smoker. ![]() If you have a bee hive in your tree and it is causing a problem, you can try to get rid of it yourself. Also, make sure the tree is adequately watered and fertilized. A colony of bees may live in a bee tree for many years. Make sure the tree has plenty of room to grow, and remove any dead or decaying branches. One of the many problems facing honey bees today is the loss of their natural habitat. A bee tree is a tree in which a colony of honey bees makes its home. ![]()
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