The BeeHolder, October 2011

Late last summer we took our first look at Upper Rectory. Upon our arrival, a chap up a ladder informed us that there was a wasp's nest in the wall of the house, but we weren't to worry because he has squirted silicone into the entrance so they would no longer bother us. Now, we are no experts, but even to the untrained eye, one could see that these creatures were bees. Luckily, the bees had several entrances, no harm was done, and so our love affair accidentally began.

A while after we moved into the rectory, the daughter of the previous occupants came to visit. They had moved there in 1935 and the feral bees were already in residence and had been for some considerable time. Her mother had tried without success to have them removed but they kept returning. The family finally gave up and allowed the bees to remain, where they stay to this day. At first we were wary of them, we have a little boy and I am allergic to them. They nest in the wall, at the front of the house, quite near to a bedroom window - this has proved a pleasure and all our misgivings unfounded. When they are really active you can listen to them and feel the heat they produce through the wall in the bedroom. We have since opened a restaurant and shepherd hut bed and breakfast and have regular visits to "the bee room", as its known, by our customers, curious to find out more and get close to them. These little fuzzy creatures are so content and docile they will sit happily on your hand. We leave the window open, and the drones spend their last hours sat on the flowery curtains. I put the radiator on high, last winter, just as a precautionary measure, which I am now assured was totally unnecessary. We have a very small knowledge of bees and would appreciate any advice. We shall be on tenterhooks this winter, until spring comes, when we hope to see activity again.

Next year, we would like to catch a swarm they throw, and hive it. A friend of ours recently told us that, in folklore, having bees in the wall of your home brings great happiness and luck to the occupants. We feel lucky to have them... they have survived for all these years, against all odds, and we can closely interact with them as they go about their daily life.

If you are interested in visiting our bees We can be contacted via our website, here.

Kerry and Steve Houlker