In the wild, there are approximately 240 different species of solitary bee. Arguably, the most common species is the red mason bee. Without prejudice to other species of bees (unmistakeably they are all important) studies conclude that solitary bees are far more efficient at collecting pollen than their colonial cousins. Red masonry bees will nest in wall crevices and particularly take advantage of loose, wall mortars. Female masonry bees are undoubtedly the homemakers and will furnish the nest accordingly to protect her eggs. Each female will lay an egg towards the back of the nest and then partition it off…..and so on until the nest is full. Having laid the last egg, she will then close-up the nest using mud. Commonplace in the south west of England, masonry bees will take up residence in exposed cob walling and it is not difficult to understand why….she has a ready source of barricading material.
A Reactive Habitat for Solitary Bees
Our unique Cobbee bricks provide a convenient advantage for the bees with 8 ready-made tunnels. The tunnels are 8mm in diameter and 25mm in depth and can of course be extended if the bees so wish. Our Cobbee brick also offers the bees sufficient, to-hand material to construct their tunnel chambers. We must therefore emphasise that this product will almost certainly be impacted upon over the course of several years, however, for those of you doing the maths this equates to less than 1p a day (and this is the worst case scenario)!
Where can I put my Cobbee brick?
Correct positioning of our unique Cobbee brick is quite important as this will encourage activity and longevity.
- Ensure the Cobbee brick is situated under cover IT MUST NOT GET WET!
- Research indicates that a suitable height (from the ground) is between 1m and 1.5m
- If the Cobbee brick can be south facing, great! But this isn’t imperative.
…..and that’s it! You can sit back and enjoy the show!
Product Information
Weight: 3.2kg
Height: 100mm
Width: 255mm
Depth: 70mm
Manufacturing Materials: Clayey soil, barley straw and water
Manufacturing Methods: Hand-made then hydraulically pressed
Additional Information
Our cob bee bricks are dried naturally and are not fired.
Handle this product with care! If dropped, it will break!
If you are thinking about posting this item to a friend, family member or colleague ensure that you have appropriate packaging material…and lots of it!
Installation of this product into new or existing cob walling is not recommended UNLESS the cob bee brick is sheathed on the top, bottom, back and sides. Over the many years of activity that your cob bee brick will experience it is inevitable that, AT SOME POINT in time, the industrious bees will excavate THROUGH the cob bee brick and into the principal fabric of the wall. This product is not presently certified for constructional use.
Place you order here.
£12.50 each (excluding delivery & VAT)
£10.00 each (Collection Only)
To place your order:
- Complete the order form here
- Order confirmation will be sent to you along with our payment details
- On receipt of full payment goods will be despatched next working day
Bee Bowls built into a cob wall
Bee holes in stonework
Bee holes in a cob wall
Returns and Refunds
You have the statutory right to cancel your order for any reason within 14 days beginning the day you received the item. Please note that you must return this product in the same condition as you received it. This means that the item must be unused and undamaged.
Return postage costs are to be met by the purchaser and returned to Earth Blocks Limited, Workshop 1, Singlerose Depot, St Austell, PL26 8TD