Best Bee Houses in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 10, 2024
Solitary bees may not give you honey but keeping and housing these little fellows require no training at all. All you have to do is purchase one of these bee houses and your garden will look better than ever. ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
Type
Weight and Dimensions
Material
Features
Warranty
 
PROS

The whole thing consists of six individual cell trays, the design of which allows you to open them for cleaning and inspection. The holes in it are specifically designed to attract only the non-swarming types of bees, like the Leafcutter or the Red Mason.

CONS

Some parts may not be polished enough. 

OUR VERDICT

If you don't just want to attract dozens of Leafcutters or Red Masons but would also like a nice little addition to your garden that would be able to embellish its look, the bee home from the Wildlife World should prove to be right up your alley.

detailed parameters
Type

Horizontal with frames

Weight and Dimensions

200 mm x 220 mm x 220 mm

1.6 kg

Material

FSC timber

Features

Gable roof

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The wooden stems of different lengths mimic the natural habitats of these species. The manufacturer also included flower seeds you can use to grow a great variety of flowers that will surely draw the attention of these lovely little creatures.

CONS

The edges of the roof are a bit sharp, so be careful with them. 

OUR VERDICT

You should definitely consider giving the Plant Theatre PTDE/BEE/HOTEL Bee Hotel a try if you happen to have a sizable garden with all kinds of plants, fruits, and vegetables. Plus, the tubes are adjustable, so you can place them any way you see fit.

detailed parameters
Type

Horizontal with bamboo sticks

Weight and Dimensions

200 mm x 200 mm x 170 mm

~ 1 kg

Material

Wood

Features

Zinc gable roof, flower seeds for bees included

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The product is comprised of natural wood, except for the zinc gable roof that protects the house from harm. With 195 x 115 x 15 mm in overall dimensions, it has enough space to host the bees but also isn't large enough so that you'll easily be able to find some space for it in your garden.

CONS

The sticks are a bit too thin so cleaning them may prove to be an issue.

OUR VERDICT

If you would like to be part of a solution and help solve the decline in bee population, get the Wild on Wildlife WA02 Esschert Design Wood Bee House to provide the solitary bees with a nice place to stay.

detailed parameters
Type

Horizontal with bamboo sticks

Weight and Dimensions

195 mm x 115 mm x 15 mm

0.4 kg

Material

Wood

Features

Zinc gable roof, built-in hanging loop

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The whole thing is made of wood, including the multi-tiered roof that is as useful when it comes to protecting the insects as it is attractive. The bamboo sticks will be perfect for housing ladybugs and other types of insects while the holes inside the main frame will attract the Red Masons and the Leafcutters.

CONS

The number of bamboo sticks isn't always the same as advertised.

OUR VERDICT

The Kingfisher HOTEL2 is the sort of model you should get if you would like to attract ladybirds, lacewings, aphids and other types of insects in addition to the solitary bees. The wire hanger will allow you to use any firm branch as a base for the model.

detailed parameters
Type

Horizontal with bamboo sticks

Weight and Dimensions

160 mm x 140 mm x 150 mm

0.68 kg

Material

Wood

Features

Multi-tiered roof, wire hanger

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The bee house is comprised of FSC timber with a nice yellow paint finish that makes the house look like a beehive. The gable roof is both charming and useful as it protects the lovely little tenants from rain and all kinds of harm. On top of it, you will be able to find a couple of decorative bees that further improve the attractive design of the model.

CONS

The house is a solid unit, so you can't take it apart and clean the cells.

OUR VERDICT

The bee house from Tom Chambers won't be that great of a fit for people looking to attract other insects. But if you would like to acquire a small yet attractive construction that will improve the look of your garden and attract some bees in the meantime, this is the one to look out for.

detailed parameters
Type

Horizontal with frames

Weight and Dimensions

N/A

~1 kg

Material

FSC timber

Features

Gable roof

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

X

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Wildlife World SBH1

Beauty in the Eye of the Bee-Holder

In case you don't get what all the buzz is about, a bee house like the one from Wildlife World will allow you to provide solitary bees with a place they could call home. It may not be the most complicated construction out there, but the rather attractive design of this model is also quite far from what you would call simple.

For starters, the model is made of FSC-approved timber, so there is no doubt that the house will be able to last for years to come. The whole thing consists of six individual cell trays, the design of which allows you to open them for cleaning and inspection. The holes in it are specifically designed to attract only the non-swarming types of bees, like the Leafcutter or the Red Mason. All of these bees are gregarious, so you won't have to worry about your pets or kids around this solitary bee house. Besides, the bees are naturally attracted to the holes in wood, so as long as you have some plants in your garden, these hard-working fellows will stay with you for an entire season, pollinating the flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

The gable roof on top of the house is a nice final touch that will keep the bee's home nice and dry. Other than that, the model is actually quite a looker, which isn't something you can normally say about one of these houses. So, if you don't just want to attract dozens of Leafcutters or Red Masons but would also like a nice little addition that would be able to embellish the look of your garden, the bee home from the Wildlife World should prove to be right up your alley.

Review of Wildlife World SBH1 Solitary Bee Hive

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £23.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B001HIYW44

 

Plant Theatre PTDE/BEE/HOTEL

A Healthy Dose of Vitamin Bee

As some of you may know, bee as a species have been in decline over the past few decades due to a variety of reasons but mostly loss of nesting and feeding habitats. And that is a real shame if only for the fact that bees are by far the most important and effective pollinators. So if you have a sizable garden and would like all of your crops and other plants to grow, we couldn't recommend the Plant Theatre PTDE/BEE/HOTEL Bee Hotel highly enough.

This is definitely not the smallest option on the market nor would we describe it as particularly attractive. But it is easily one of the better bee houses for gardens for those individuals that would like to attract as many of these essential pollinators as possible. What makes it so attractive to all kinds of solitary bees is mostly the holes and the wooden stems of different lengths that mimic the natural habitats of these species. Just place the model in a sunny position facing the south and watch as dozens of bees are making their way to their new place of residence.

And if you're worried that your garden is home to way too many fruits and vegetables and it doesn't have enough to attract the bees, the manufacturers of the bee hotel made sure to include flower seeds you can use to grow a great variety of flowers that will surely draw the attention of these lovely little creatures.

To reiterate our earlier point, you should definitely consider giving the Plant Theatre PTDE/BEE/HOTEL Bee Hotel a try if you happen to have a sizable garden with all kinds of plants, fruits, and vegetables.

Review of Plant Theatre PTDE/BEE/HOTEL Bee Hotel with Metal Roof

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £22.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B0060JSIGI

 

Wild on Wildlife WA02

Don't Bee a Bee-Stander

There's a good chance you've heard all the buzz about all kinds of bees going extinct. Nonetheless, you might think that it isn't really the sort of issue that a single individual can solve. But that isn't necessarily true. All you have to do is simply acquire a model like the Wild on Wildlife WA02 Esschert Design Wood Bee House and you will be able to contribute your own two cents to help solve this problem.

It may not look like much, but the product has everything required to attract different species of solitary bees. The whole thing is comprised of natural wood, except for the zinc gable roof that protects the house from harm. With 195 x 115 x 15 millimetres in overall dimensions, it has enough space to host the bees but also isn't large enough so that you'll easily be able to find some space for it in your garden. Besides, the whole thing weighs no more than 400 grams and already comes with a hanging loop, so you can just hang it on virtually any tree you want. All kinds of stems and bamboo sticks inside add authenticity to the house, imitating hollow stems and holes in all kinds of deadwood that are the most prevalent natural habitat for these species of bees.

So if you would like to be part of a solution and help solve the decline in bee population, get the Wild on Wildlife WA02 Esschert Design Wood Bee House to provide the solitary bees with a nice place to stay.

Review of Wild on Wildlife WA02 Esschert Design Wood Bee House
Last updated price £14.10
Stock In stock
ASIN B000AMWT34

 

Kingfisher HOTEL2

Not a Shab-Bee House Indeed

The Kingfisher HOTEL2 is one of the more versatile models that will be able to fit quite a variety of customers with different gardens. Though it is being advertised as a bee hotel, the product will be able to house ladybirds, lacewings, aphids and other insects that are beneficial to your garden. With these little fellows, you won't have to resort to chemical pesticides in order to keep it clean.

The house comes already assembled, which is always a plus, especially if you're not that into the whole "Do It Yourself" idea. The wire hanger is also part of that assembly, so you won't have to think about where to put the whole thing. Just make sure to find a less frail branch as the model weighs approximately 680 grams. Other than that, the bee hotel in question is made of wood, including the multi-tiered roof that is as useful when it comes to protecting the insects as it is attractive. The bamboo sticks will be perfect for housing ladybugs and other types of insects while the holes inside the main frame will attract the Red Masons and the Leafcutters. Besides, the whole thing is incredibly affordable, and the sort of benefits you will get from it far outweigh the measly cost.

In conclusion, the Kingfisher HOTEL2 is the sort of model you should get if you would like to attract ladybirds, lacewings, aphids and other types of insects in addition to the solitary bees.

Review of Kingfisher HOTEL2 Wooden Bee Hotel
Last updated price £8.88
Stock In stock
ASIN B00AJG65Z4

 

Tom Chambers Bee Hive

Let It Bee

The particular product from Tom Chambers wouldn't allow you to house all kinds of insects but if you're looking to acquire a place that would entice bees to come and stay, this is certainly the one to look out for.

Though it may not be the most important aspect of the model or any bee home, for that matter, we would first like to point out the attractive design of the product. The whole thing is made of FSC timber with a nice yellow paint finish that makes the house look like a beehive. The gable roof is both charming and useful as it protects the lovely little tenants from rain and all kinds of harm. On top of it, you will be able to find a couple of decorative bees that further improve the attractive design of the model. All in all, this bee house will be able to provide warm and dry cavities for solitary bees to nest in.

While the overall dimensions of it are not specified, you can place it anywhere around the garden, even on top of a fence post or a tree. But we wouldn't recommend hiding the model from sight as the charming house will easily be able to improve the overall look of your garden.

Again, the bee house from Tom Chambers won't be that great of a fit for people looking to attract other insects. But if you would like to acquire a small yet attractive construction that will improve the look of your garden and attract some bees in the meantime, this is the one to look out for.

Review of Tom Chambers Bee Hive Wooden

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00106HEOS

 

What Is a Bee House?

Bees are very busy, pollinating trees, wildflowers, and most agricultural products. Today, many pollinator species are facing extinction, so it’s important to be more aware of the ecology of these beneficial insects. As a beginning beekeeper, you should decide which type of bees you want to host, honey bees or solitary bees, in order to provide a good habitat for them. Solitary bees are efficient pollinators and, unlike honey bees, they don’t live in communal hives. In the wild, solitary bees lay their eggs in natural cavities like hollow stems, woodpecker holes, and insect holes. However, they can use artificial nesting cavities, so you can attract them to your garden or backyard with a bee house. A bee house is a man-made shed, containing a number of artificial holes that mimic the habitat bees naturally use for nesting and laying eggs. It provides a safe place away from predators, harsh weather conditions, and chemicals that can interfere with their reproductive cycle. The bee house allows you to easily harvest cocoons and offers superior protection of the bee larva. Supplying clean holes for nesting, providing a source of pollen in the spring, and harvesting cocoons in the fall guarantee a healthy population of bees in your garden.

If you are passionate about butterflies, embellish the look of your garden with one of our butterfly houses.

Sources:

1. Nabila Khouri Bees are dying -- what can we do about it? CNN. March 20, 2017.

2. Nick Lucchesi Good News for Honeybees: 2016 Population Results are Not "Horrible", INVERSE. May 26, 2017.

3. Jessica Tucker Why Bees Are Important to Our Planet, OneGreenPlanet. June 27, 2014.

4. Learn how bees play an important role in agriculture, Nature.

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Publish Date: 2018-04-26 12:40:27