Description
The Award-Winning Nurturing Nature Solitary Bee Observation Nest Box
How can we engage people and especially the younger generation with the environment? The Nurturing Nature Observation nest box will do just that!
The original and Award-winning nest box. As seen and used on BBC Countryfile 2022, The Wild Gardener 2021, BBC Springwatch April 2018, 2019, and BBC Gardeners World 2019. A trap-nest with windows Great for schools. Designed and tested by me it was manufactured in NW England. I have been managing Red Mason Bees for over 30 years. I used that experience and research when designing this nest box optimising it for them and Leafcutter bees. Also to make their management easier. Sorry, this is NOT a ‘fit and forget’ bee hotel! It is a bespoke handcrafted solitary bee nest box for solitary bees that live in it for many months, hardly a hotel!! Many bee/insect/bug houses available are potential bee cemeteries. I know from speaking with customers and presentation attendees, that they simply were not aware of any problems and would not have bought them had they been aware of the potential harm done to their bees and the bees in their local vicinity.
Now used by 16 solitary bee species, (see list) including Coelioxys cuckoo bee and its larva – watch the video
Before purchasing please read this. Solitary bee nests and suitability for bees
Ideal for Red Mason bees (which are highly efficient fruit pollinators) leafcutter bees and other bees. Safe around children and gardens. Ideal for schools. Many areas of the curriculum are all inside one box! Allows children to observe and investigate many areas of science, such areas as food webs, ecology, reproduction, life cycles, analysis and evaluation of data, and much more. Safe around children and gardens. A fascinating addition to any school. Ideal for researchers. It is a trap nest with windows to observe species and their natural enemies, which together are promising bioindicators for ecological change or habitat quality. All are hand-assembled
All of the products which I designed are shown for reference and educational purposes only. I do not sell or stock them anymore.
Stephanie Thompson –
That’s fantastic, thank you so much for sorting that out. Can’t wait to put them out around Minsmere and see what we get! May 2016
nurturingnature –
from old website
Jon S –
Thanks for this. The instructions are very comprehensive.
Jul 2015
nurturingnature –
from old web site
George –
Having found several solitary bee boxes, the build quality didn’t look very good on many of them I did an image search on Google and it showed yours, which was head and shoulders above the others in terms of build and look.
Email JS July 2015
From the old website
Geoff Potter –
I bought one of the first wild bee nest boxes George offered and have had many years of enjoyment out of it from it. Every year without fail it always gets a lot of interest both from the bees and friends (especially kids who are fascinated). I’ve recently upgraded to the new model (although the old one is still hanging in 10 years later) so looking forward to using both this summer.
nurturingnature –
That’s nice to hear Geoff. I am even more proud of the upgraded model which has several improvements designed into it. I have added this to the review section of the nest box. As ever, any questions just email me. Thanks, George
nurturingnature –
I bought one of the first wild bee nest boxes George offered and have had many years of enjoyment out of it from it. Every year without fail it always gets a lot of interest both from the bees and friends (especially kids who are fascinated). I’ve recently upgraded to the new model (although the old one is still hanging in 10 years later) so looking forward to using both this summer. G Potter via email
Jennifer Dodge –
Arrived quickly and in good shape (well packaged). It’s lovely and clearly well-made, with detailed instructions for maintenance. Now we see if we can attract any solitary bees this year!
nurturingnature –
Arrived quickly and in good shape (well packaged). It’s lovely and clearly well-made, with detailed instructions for maintenance. Now we see if we can attract any solitary bees this year! via email JD
Nurturing Nature –
Last year i bought a Painted solitary bee nest box with a cocoon emergence chamber from you and it’s a real succes! At this moment it is completely full with nesting Red mason bees.
They are flying in and out and the kids love watching them flying in and out. I think there are different kind of bees since some of the tunnels are yellow and others seem to have leaves in them. So i would like to order another one from you. via email M van den B. Holland
Deb B –
I would also like to say a big thank you for your brilliant customer service and advice/help. I am very excited to put up our new bee house this weekend.
I was completely unaware of the dangers from parasites etc leaving it out all winter, hence the following years not so successful.
Your instructions are brilliant and am really hoping lead to the success of bringing new bees into our garden….. via email
nurturingnature –
Very kind of you to say so Deb. Many thanks, George
George Pilkington –
I bought one of your solitary bee nest boxes and was doubtful as to how successful I would be. The very day after I attached it to the fence, I considered moving it to another site, but, as I went to lift it down, a couple of bees flew out – they’d already started nesting! Since then I’m hooked. I go out in the evening to check and it’s fascinating watching the busy bees fly in with leaves and petals to seal the entrances. Amazing! KP…..via my website
Pete V –
Brilliant – really well constructed and intelligently designed. Perfect for showing kids what bees really get up to!
nurturingnature –
Thank you Peter. Cheers George
Tim (verified owner) –
Hi George Just to let you know that the box is up for the summer and we already have eight eggs c/w nectar stores! Cheers
nurturingnature –
Nice one Tim. Thanks for sharing. Cheers George
Louis-Philippe Arnhem –
I found this wonderful design rather by coincidence on internet. I have lots of spring bees around my apartment and green roof although I live in Leuven (Belgium) in a rather urban area. I ordered the solitary bee observation nest box for “my” mason bees (here mainly Osmia cornuta) and George offered me to test also the summer bee unit. TWO days after having put it up (end of May), I already got a Osmia rufa (little did I know that they were around) and now (June 3d) I host already three different summer bee species of different sizes !
Still having troubles to identify them, but it is such a pleasure to watch them and to see how they evolve and how the larvae grow day by day. Apart from that, the box is really beautiful, meticulously handcrafted with love and knowledge and draws the curiosity of every visitor and of course the bees !
nurturingnature –
So glad you are having tremendous success. Thank you for your kind comments, really appreciate them. Great stuff.Thanks, George
Barry Rudd –
Excellent product all the family were amazed how quickly the holes were filled up lovely to watch the bees close up we have now stored this in the shed and ordered the summer nest unit
nurturingnature –
Glad to hear of your success. Many thanks for sharing. Cheers George
Ian Hydes –
I ordered the nest box for my mum’s birthday and it arrived next day. There was tracking information and great communication from Nurturing Nature. The instructions are very thorough and absolutely fascinating reading. The instructions are as valuable as the well thought out nest box. I’m going to ask for one of these nest boxes for my next birthday too!
nurturingnature –
Very much appreciate your kind comments, Ian. Would make a great BD present!
Rachael (verified owner) –
This is my 3rd bee house. The first 2 were small interactive houses and very successful. A friend told me about George’s boxes and how they had viewing panels as well as interchangeable seasonal segments, and a release chamber for the next year. I put it up straight away using the summer insert and there was immediate activity from some tiny black resin bees. I’m very happy with my purchase and look forward to the learning journey ahead. George has been so helpful and responsive to emails. Highly recommend this product.
nurturingnature –
That’s very kind of you to say so, Rachael. I am very happy that all the work I did prior to selling these has been successfully received by so many solitary bees and solitary wasps. As well as customers!! Thanks, George
John Forster –
The boxes are well designed and built. The service is exceptional.
nurturingnature –
That’s very kind of you to say so John. Thanks, George
Clementina Stiegler –
I bought the solitary bee box and within days of putting it up it was full of red mason bee activity. So exciting! This stopped around July so I removed the inside and replaced it with the summer unit. This was also very successful. Two rows of leaf cutter bees and some strange small black wasp that has provided little spiders to feed the grubs. They then spun sweet little cigar-shaped cocoons. All in all it has become a minor obsession and the advice from George is always knowledgeable and interesting.
nurturingnature –
Why thank you, Clementina. Best, George
Angela Minns (verified owner) –
Thrilled to have received this and the summer unit! Can’t wait to get it in situ in spring. The box is very well made and communication was excellent.
nurturingnature –
Thank you Angela, thrilled you like them! Cheers George
Amanda Casey (verified owner) –
Beautifully made, with very clear instructions. Just put it up abd hoping to attract visitors soon.
nurturingnature –
Thanks and happy wild beekeeping Amanda.Cheers George
IG –
Hi George
A few years ago I purchased a solitary bee observation box from you and thought it was about time I told how amazing it has been. Every year we have had leaf cutter bees nesting and my son has been delighted with the view he gets of them. In the last year we have had red mason bees nesting as well and while cleaning out the box some of the last ones were hatching and taking flight (see picture). We removed the last remaining cocoons and brought them inside in a container. One hatched last night and my son got to feed it before releasing it outside (see blurry picture). Thank you so much for creating such an amazing product, we may never have had these experiences without it. Via email with permission
nurturingnature –
Good to hear. Thanks, George
Jennifer G (verified owner) –
Thanks very much for your note below and the works of art, which arrived today. These are a birthday present for my wife, who was so impressed that she has just ordered another pair! They look fantastic and we’re really looking forward to observing the activity within.PN-
I received the solitary bee nesting box and summer unit today, which my husband ordered for me. I just wanted to drop you a note of thanks. I am delighted with it. It is clearly the work of an expert and craftsman – clever design, great attention to detail and beautifully made.
I am looking forward to sitting down to read all the information and have already earmarked a spot for the box, where some leafcutter bees have been very busy nesting in some small pots on my sunny kitchen windowsill for the last month!
I may even be tempted to purchase a second box and have checked your website…. only 2 left! JG. With permission via email
Keith Bramley (verified owner) –
We have had a great first season with our solitary bee observation box. It’s amazing how much interest it got from Red Mason Bees almost straight away. By the end of June every cell bar just a few were completely full, each one with 15 or so individual pollen loaded cells complete with egg. We have also now purchased the summer unit so we can try and attract some extra species whilst the Mason’s get ready for next spring. This is a really well made box, easy to use and the kids are fascinated with the observation windows.
nurturingnature –
Very pleased you are pleased Keith. Thank you for your kind comments. cheers George
Pat Downes (verified owner) –
Received my solitary bee house this morning.It is so beautifully made, I am really thrilled with it. It’s so solid and heavy, any bee would be proud to call it home! Great customer service from George too, all my (many) questions answered very promptly. Thank you so much.
nurturingnature –
My pleasure Pat. So happy you are happy and thanks for taking the time to comment. Cheers< george
Jo (verified owner) –
I bought two of these units along with two summer units, and watching them being used by the Mason bees is absolutely addictive. I am fully commited to seeing these little creatures through to their emergence next spring. The unit itself is a piece of craftsmanship although I hope the fact I’d initially neglected to use the insect barrier glue (bought separately) along the gaps won’t hamper them.
Thanks George! Your dedication is inspiring.
nurturingnature –
Thank you Jo. Very kind of you to say this. Cheers, George
Alexa (verified owner) –
I bought this as a gift for my dad back in April. As an engineer, he was very pleased with the detailed instructions and mounted the box without any issues. It took a few weeks for the bees to come but once they did, the rows filled up steadily. I remember dad excitedly announcing “we are with bees!” and we are now about 7-8 rows full. It’s very entertaining to watch them fly in and out. Extremely glad we did our research and found George with his excellent boxes, designed for bee welfare above anything else.
nurturingnature –
Thank you Alexa for your lovely praise and it’s really nice of you to credit me. Of course, you are right re my designing the nest box for bee welfare and our education. I’m made up your dad likes it too. I have several engineer friends and they are a hard bunch to please!! Thanks, George NN
Pa Downes (verified owner) –
I cannot describe the joy watching the solitary bees, leaf cutter and Red Mason, emerge this week from this beautifully made box.Our last one turned out to be a woodpecker snack bar which was devastating but this design and build has foiled them.
nurturingnature –
Email me and I can show you my woodpecker deterrent! Cheers George