Beehive Yourselves

A few weeks ago some beehives appeared in a garden next to the woods that we regularly walk through. As well as a few of the more ‘traditional’ box shapes, there was this wonderful structure. I had never seen one before. It would appear to be a ‘chimney’ hive - the bees enter and exit through the high chimney. This way they are less likely to come into contact with humans walking nearby!

There were a few bees buzzing about it, but I only seem to have captured one in the image and that is out of focus!

Also spotted dozens, possibly hundreds, of small tortoiseshell butterflies on the nettles and thistles along one of the paths. They were everywhere but wouldn’t stay still to be photographed - I did get one in the end and that is in extras.