Do you have a Swarm?
Please ascertain what type of flying insects you have before calling us. Unfortunately we are not able to collect wasps, hornets, solitary bees or bumblebees, you should contact your local authority or pest control contractor to have them removed. Please see ‘Identifying Bees’ for more help or view the British Beekeepers Association website BBKA Swarm Identification
Arranging for a Swarm Collection
If you see a swarm of Honey Bees please call our Swarm Co-ordinator Gill Atkins on 07951 123 365. She will arrange for a local beekeeper to come out and collect the swarm for a small charge of £10 to cover costs.
Bees normally swarm on a nice sunny day in the late morning or afternoon. Collecting a swarm will involve a minimum of two trips. The beekeeper will arrive and hopefully get the swarm into a box. The bees will then be left until all the flying bees have returned and made their way into the box. The bees should not be taken away immediately or a large number of ‘orphans’ will be left behind and they will die. The beekeeper will return at dusk to collect them, which can be quite late in June.
Location
If you do not live in the Meon Valley and have a swarm, you will be able to find a beekeeper in your area by going to The British Beekeepers Association web site www.bbka.org.uk
