[compostqueen]

I have a bunch of bees who seem to be nesting. I have watched their comings and goings having noticed them for the first time yesterday. They have set up home at the base of some old straw bales. They enter at ground level, into a hole, and I've seen several of them. They fly off quite a distance and disappear out of sight, I assume to gather pollen

They are small and their colour is a bit washed out, sort of faded

Any idea what they are? Will they leave me any honey ? 

They are quite safe from predators as they're in my old hen run which is secure from birds etc and I am using it to keep my veg in that are currently being hardened off away from the predations of blackbirds and pigeons, not to mention every passing tom cat 

[Paul Plots]

Very useful to have in and about the garden. I'm not so sure they will be very keen on providing honey for you though.  :blink:

Left alone they'll be no bother.

As for which sort: Bee my guest - Click here! as there are many different ones.

[sunshineband]

Sounds as though they could perhaps be carder bees,as the are a pale tan colour and relatively small.

No honey though, just great to have them somewhere safe to nest 

[compostqueen]

Ta for the info. I looked at the pic and they look a bit like the one on the right.  I suppose I ought to try and take a picture

I love bees and they are always welcome in my garden 

I had some on the plot a few years ago as I hung up a bees nest which I received as a gift.  It found an occupant from the off; a single bee who never stopped work visiting the nest and a patch of white clover in my allotment grass, which I ordered must not be cut til she'd gone (or he?)  I had loads of visitors to watch the comings and goings