Bees in the neighbour's pool all June — what finally moved them to my water station

Sharing because this nearly became a fence war. My two hives decided the neighbour's pool was the finest water source in Kent. Dozens of bees on the pool edge daily, a few floaters, one sting, and increasingly frosty conversations. What didn't work: a plain bowl of water (ignored), a bird bath (ignored), moving the bowl closer to the hives (ignored — they were loyal to the pool). What worked: a big plant saucer filled with chicken grit as a landing ramp, topped up so the grit breaks the surface, plus — the trick — a handful of straw soaked in the water for a few days so it smells 'alive'. Some people add a pinch of salt and swear bees prefer slightly salty water; mine seemed to agree. Took about two weeks of keeping it reliably full before pool traffic dropped to nearly nothing. Key lesson: they imprint on a source, so set your station up BEFORE they find the pool, ideally in early spring, and never let it run dry or they'll go straight back.