We've been hearing how bees are suffering colony collapse disorder and there are very few around, but the last few days I've seen lots of bees. However they've been very BIG bees and Mr Merry says he thinks these are a different sort of bee and not the collapsed bees at all!
Is this right?
If it's huge and hairy it's a Bumble Bee. They live in much smaller colonies than a honey bee. but I assumed all bees were in trouble.
Ah yes! It was huge and hairy. 
But I have seen at least five in the last two days so unless it's one very busy well-travelled Bumble then it's surely good news.
I get a lot of bees in my garden too, honey and bumble. Apparently, according to the program tonight about the bees plight, unlike the farmland bees, inner city and town bees are thriving. Consensus of opinion appears to be that it’s because pesticides are used less in towns, plus there are flowers blooming nearly all year round.