Wow!!!!

[roitelet]

Just got home after a very long French lunch to find the house full of bees. On investigation they were congregating round the chimney. What to do? Well I lit the fire not for the heat but for smoke. After a while they dispersed to form a swarm in a nearby tree. The noise was incredible. First they formed two clumps one on the trunk and one on a branch. The one on the branch gradually joined the one on the trunk and at the moment they are just hanging there. The smoke persuaded them not to take up residence in the chimney, thank goodness. A friend has them in the chimney and is having great trouble getting them removed.

Never seen a swarm before, quite fascinating. Sorry can't seem to add pictures.

Oh, it did work,

[mothhawk]

Wow indeed! Gosh you were lucky to be able to get them out of the house, that was smart thinking. Fantastic pics!

[scarey55]

Goodness me! quick thinking on lighting the fire, well done.

[wbmkk]

I assume you want rid of them, if they are still in the tree.

A local beekeeper would welcome a free colony. Here in the UK, the beekeeping associations have contact details for 'swarm catchers' Most don't charge for their time, after all they are getting a free colony of bees, but some will always try and 'win' twice ... being paid and a free colony.

In 2013 a friend of mine had to pay £300 for a nucleus (small colony) of bees to put in their new hive

[1tonne]

That's impressive as hell! Good thinking , my missus just said "omg that's like something out of a horror movie"....

That single sentence predicts the wailing that would occur had it been our house.

Keep us posted on what happens please!


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[Jeanied]

Apparently there was a huge swarm in the middle of London today - they were taken off to the beehives on the roof of Westminster Cathedral! Pleased to hear there are several hives in the middle of the capital.

[roitelet]

I assume you want rid of them, if they are still in the tree.

A local beekeeper would welcome a free colony. Here in the UK, the beekeeping associations have contact details for 'swarm catchers' Most don't charge for their time, after all they are getting a free colony of bees, but some will always try and 'win' twice ... being paid and a free colony.

In 2013 a friend of mine had to pay £300 for a nucleus (small colony) of bees to put in their new hive

We did ring a local but unfortunately he was away but his wife said that if they were still there in a day or two he would like to know. For the moment we will leave them to their own devices and see what happens. They don't worry us as we are used to hornets quite close to the house.

I will let you know what happens.

[roitelet]

Well they are still in the tree this morning, move up a bit but still in a tight cluster.

[Jeanied]

Time to build a hive Roitelet

[roitelet]

Don't think so! Just had to light the fire again as they are showing great interest I the chimney again!

[DannyRam]

Something like this?
Swarm of bees surround woman in middle of London's Victoria | Mail Online

[roitelet]

Yep, just like that!

[roitelet]

Difficult to believe but there I was doing a but of pottering in the garden when another swarm arrived!!!

Are they trying to tell me something?

[Nicos]

Now come along lass..that lot is worth at least €600....either get yrself a couple of hives ....or flog them on leboncoin!!!!!...they'll be snapped up!

[Nicos]

Are they trying to tell me something?

Yup...you've got the best garden in the neighbourhood!