Swarm collectors

Howard Towl Botley	07832 185913	01329 835814
Tony Ashworth Titchfield	07766 525963	01489 579863
Richard Skinner West End	07812 642970	07812 642970
Louise Evans Botley	07434 952900	01489 781155

If you are reading this page in other parts of England, you can find a local swarm collector using this map. British Beekeepers’ Association swarm map

When you call, the beekeeper will ask you a few questions:

Have the bees settled into a cohesive ball?

After a while, the swarm will settle down into a relatively still ball of bees; maybe about the size of a rugby ball or watermelon but it could be bigger than that.

Does the swarm look like these pictures?

We’re sorry but we can only deal with honey bee swarms. We cannot remove wasps’ nests, hornets or bumble bees.

Is the swarm accessible?

Sometimes the bees settle on a low branch or fence and are easy to collect. They may settle in a tree or guttering and the beekeeper will need to discuss access with you.

How long has the swarm been there?

Do you mind us trimming your hedge or tree?

Strange question you may think! It’s not that we’re popping round to do the gardening but sometimes bees settle in foliage and the only way to remove them is to cut leaves and branches from shrubs or trees.

Have you got the kettle on?

Depending on what stage the swarm is at, the beekeeper may be at your house for sometime. We must allow all the bees that are due to join the swarm to do so, or you’ll be left with a group of demoralised, homeless bees. If you’d like to know more about swarming and why bees do it, click here.