FAQ's
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When do swarms occur here in the UK

Bee swarms in the UK typically occur between early May and late July, but can happen anytime between April and September.

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How can I tell it's a Honey Bee Swarm?

Honey bees are the only bees that swarm and will number in the thousands not forty or fifty, they will form a cluster and stay together for warmth and to protect the queen

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Will the swarm sting or attack me?

Its unlikely the bees will attack or try to sting you, swarms are generally quite docile, they have gorged themselves on honey to feed on whilst swarming, plus they've used up a whole load of energy in the process so will need to rest. However, stay away from them, don't provoke them and also keep any pets well back.

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How do you collect the Bees?

One way is to look for the queen of the swarm , once found we'll gently place her in a queen cage or clip. It can be tricky, then she's placed in our collection hive and the rest of the swarm will follow her in.

In the case of a hanging swarm, our collection hive is positioned below the swarm so we can lower or shake the bees in to the hive. We then watch to make sure the queen is in there, again the remaining bees will follow her in.

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Do you kill the bees?

No. The honey bee swarms we rescue are taken to our apiary and placed into a new or vacant hive for them to make their home. We never euthanise colonies. 

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Do the bees sting you?

We do get asked this one a lot, the simple answer is YES we get stung from time to time, but to minimise the risk when dealing with a swarm or in the hives we always wear a beekeepers suit. we also may use a smoker depending on the bees temperament.

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How far do bees fly to find food?

The distance bee's fly in its life is astonishing. Honey bees will travel between 1 and 6 kms for food, further if needed, although typically will stay within approx 2km of the hive.