I don't know what to do…

I am allergic to bee stings (and lots of other insects), but I cant let it rule my life. I used to live in Spain where the insect population is even worse. Just be aware and if it turns out youhave a reaction to a bite or sting speak to your GP. I carry an epi pen because my allergy has got worse over the years but havent been stung by a bee in 40 years, plenty of mossie bites though!

Hi HAZBEEN, thanks so much for your post, this has really reassured me. I think I'll try to go out as it is lovely here, and I haven't left the house for weeks as I am so frightened of bees. X

If one comes near you, do not flap your arma and jump up- just sit there- it will move elsewhere.

Bees aren't usually aggressive like wasps. There was a nest in the wall of my house last year. I had to walk through the swarm to get to my car. I was not stung once.

I have been stung by wasps. Nasty creatures!

A bee loses its life when it stings and will therefore rarely sting unless you do something to provoke it. It’s wasps that are the really aggressive ones. If you are sat quietly doing your crochet you should be ok. If a bee comes which is unlikely just leave it alone and it will leave you alone. The only time to be concerned is if it a swarm when the bees are looking for a new home.
I have only once been stung by a bee 40 years ago when I was picking alpine strawberries next to Lavender. My hand started to swell but anti Histamine cream soon took the swelling down and eased the pain.

As I understand it, people are very unlikely to have an allergic reaction to a first bee sting. That may sensitise the person to have an allergic reaction later on but the first one will only have the usual reaction of pain, stinging etc.

I’ve never had a bee sting, bees generally keep well away from humans. Wasps are a different matter but even then, I’ve not been stung by one since I was a child. (Hope I haven’t jinxed myself now!)

Thanks all, I'm going to go out now. X

Bees on the whole are quite placid creatures, one of our garden benches is next to a bush that all the bees love, I could watch them for hours.

Show me a wasp though and I could probably do a one minute mile!

I grew up in a house with a garden that backed on to an orchard with bee hives.
I was never stung by any of the bees, and there were thousands. My Dad always had a beautiful flower garden at the front of the house.
The bees loved it.

FlyingHandbag go out, sit quietly doing your crochet and actually watch the bees, going about their business, from flower to flower, pollinating plants, gathering nectar, generally being good, productive beings, and doing no harm.

I am now in the garden with my crochet in my handbag that is hanging on the chair. I wouldn't have came out had it not been for you all. Thanks so muchx

Our local lavender farm has a lavender maze. It's absolutely swarming with bees but they're all so busy with the lavender that they don't bother with the people wandering around.

If a bee or a wasp is circling or flying close to me, I just stay very still and shut my eyes! If I can't see it I am fine - when I open my eyes it has usually moved on, if not, I just shut my eyes again!

This won't be helpful if you're so scared of bees but we actually keep them.Our hive is right at the bottom of the garden and unless we weed and garden right in front of the hive when it's sunny and they are busy they leave us well alone.Even then don't sting us if we stay calm.Just get a bit annoyed.I love them.And the honey is gorgeous.But then I don't mind spiders and even have respect for wasps.They are all essential to the ecosystem of our garden,and the planet.Lovely to hear you got outside.It has been so beautiful recently.