Swarm of Bees

[Tractor Boys]

I have just come home and the OH has shown me a bee swarm which has landed in our winter Jasmin, I am feeeling privlaged that they have chosen my garden but what do I do with them will they move on or will I have to get a professional in to deal with them.

[Nicos]

WOW!!!...how fantastic is that???

They certainly won't stay if there is nowhere suitable to make a hive
I'm sure they'll have a kip- and be gone by tomorrow!

There must be bee keepers in the area who would give their right arm to take them- or their left arm- or leg...I believe a new swarm is worth a couple of hundred quid these days!!

( may be wrong of course- but I stand to be corrected!)

(Can you contact Headfry...she has hives- she's the first person I can think of!)

Alternatively- there is a National bee keepers assn who will come and collect them
You've got a precious thing there- and should be really pleased to have them
There may well be a local honey producer who would be pleased to take them..of course- it may well be them who have 'lost' a swarm!

[Mrs Dobby]

Try looking for your local BBKA representative on the net, or contact the police, they usually have contact numbers for local beekeepers, and I'm sure someone will come out and collect them free of charge for you!

If you werent so far away, we'd be on our way now! lol!

[Tractor Boys]

Thanks for your help have just contacted the West Suffolk BKA they gave me 6 numbers to call the first person I phoned has agrred to come around in 10 mins to collect the bees result.

[Nicos]

Brilliant- glad you got sorted!!!

[Tractor Boys]

For those interested pics of Mark collecting the Bees.

[Bigmallly]

Omg..................rather you than me TB

[Tractor Boys]

It was well organised and Mark seemed to know exactly what he was doing there are still a few strays left which will sadly die as they no longer have a queen.

[julesapple]

That's quite an experience. Scary stuff, but good to have witnessed. I did wonder how it was going to be done. Must have been fascinating to watch!

Jules

[Tractor Boys]

Yep it was we have concentrated on making the garden bee friendly this year you know the odd one or two attracted into the garden has been great but hundreds of them in one place errrm.

[vicky]

Wow, you're lucky! We had a massive swarm fly over on monday and I was hoping they would stay but they flew off...maybe over to Bury!

[lindyloo]

what an adventure! hope you have the ones from next to me!!! someone put a hive just over the fence from the ponies. not a good idea, as i can see an inquisitive nose sending it flying, and a huge vets bill, if not equine death as a result. i havent seen any bees this year though, so i think they have found pastures anew. nothing against bees, i like them, but hopefully they are happy in their new home and wont be returning to us.

[Mrs Dobby]

Glad you were able to get sorted TB! Its a fascinating thing to watch when someone captures a swarm!

When bees swarm they are actually at their calmest, they fill up on honey before they leave the hive, so its very difficult for them to sting when they are swarming!

Having had a swarm from one of our hives about 6 weeks ago (on the plot) its definitely a sight worth seeing, we were fortunate that they decided to congregate on a branch above our plot, albeit it at about 14' height! We managed to collect and rehome them into a new hive, and they are doing well, as is the original colony that they came from, so a swarm isnt always bad news!