So you have a swarm of bees!
What should you do?
Bumble bees build small nests in gardens, compost heaps, bird boxes etc. They do not grow to large colonies and generally do not bother people. Towards the end of summer virgin queens are produced and the nest will die off. The queens hibernate over winter and start the whole process again next spring, not necessarily in the same nest location.
As bumble bees are a protected species beekeepers cannot disturb them. So if you can leave them to get on with their work over the summer they should not bother you. You will also be able to watch important pollinators go about their work.
Wasps are sometimes mistaken for bees. The way to tell the difference is that wasps have yellow legs and bees do not. If you have wasps you may need to contact a pest controller as they can become troublesome during summertime.
Just a small swarm of honey bees.
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DON'T PANIC ! Swarming bees may sound and look frightening but they are at their most harmless because they have very little to defend and are away from their hive. Often they are only with you for a few hours whilst they find a new home and fly off.
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Leave them to settle down and keep a sensible distance.
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Call for a beekeeper - see the list below. Tell the beekeeper as much as you can. You will be asked questions that help the beekeeper to decide what it's best to do and whether you have honey bees or some other insect such as bumble bees or wasps. Don't be upset if the first beekeeper you call cannot help - they are all volunteers, and have jobs to do too.
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Enjoy watching the beekeeper at work putting the swarm in a container to take away.
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Make a donation to the Beekeepers Association. A beekeeper is not paid and is doing you a favour since the bees may be a nuisance to him or her, due to the expense, time and trouble of fetching and checking them, and also treating for diseases before they can safely be put with other bees. A commercial firm may charge you as much as £40 to remove a swarm, if they will do it at all.
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Don't expect beekeepers to do anything about swarms in inaccessible places such as chimneys or vents. Our insurance does not cover us for taking risks, and we cannot undertake any structural work to get at bees for the same reason.
Swarm Collectors - 2010
Check first column to find someone in your local area - if you are not based in Bedfordshire, PLEASE contact your local Beekeeping Association.
List updated 21stJuly 2010
If bees set up permanent home in your property (they choose cavities such as disused chimneys, compost bins, bird boxes, and hollow trees) you have a bigger problem. however, with the disease problems nowadays bees require active help from a beekeeper to survive. wild colonies get no help and die out after a while.
In a movable container they can usually be shifted completely, but if you think they are setting up home in your chimney the best course is to quickly make a smoky fire that puts them off and drives them to move out. don't leave it too long or make a big fire or you may end up with melted honeycomb dripping down into the hearth and soaking into the brickwork!
Beware of a swarm that has been caught out for days in bad weather. they can't fly to a new home, they run out of food and can't go finding more. As a result they may become very defensive and may attack people who interfere with them.
|
NAME |
TEL. NUMBER |
MOBILE NUMBER |
AVAILABILITY |
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AMPTHILL DISTRICT |
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Phil Archer |
01525 718102 |
07986 093 949 |
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Gill Brewer |
01525 718550 |
07981 573 811 |
Most times, Flitwick and surrounding area |
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Biana Gale |
01525 632835 |
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Stuart Johnston |
01525 861374 |
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Andrew King |
01525 718648 |
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Andrew Mclhatton |
01525 712621 |
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Mike Niemann |
01525 717040 |
07841 533 613 |
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Kate & James Stacey |
01525 864888 |
07917 703626 or 07881 841411 |
Generally Available most of the time |
|
Nicholas Taaffe |
01525 404561 |
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Geoff Thorp |
01525 861765 |
07870 452 505 |
Any time |
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BEDFORD DISTRICT |
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Harry Inmann |
01234 306554 |
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Peter Carter |
01234 356497 |
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David Hargreaves |
01234 364027 |
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Robert Jellis |
01234 766145 |
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Tom Whitehouse |
01234 301735 |
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Kimbolton Rd, Bedford. Most times |
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BIGGLESWADE DISTRICT |
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James Baker |
01234 381491 |
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John Dawson |
01767 627357 |
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Pat & Christine Gavin |
01234 740515 |
07774 520 507 |
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Chris Jenkins |
01234 831335 |
07768 486457 |
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Ray Jenkins |
01767 221513 |
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Chris Rose |
01767 627228 |
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Lynda Wain |
01767 313902 |
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Alastair Waters |
01462 638620 |
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Paul Williams |
01234 381440 |
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DUNSTABLE DISTRICT |
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Anne Cross |
01582 696074 |
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Angel Huelamo |
01525 221106 |
07963 450 979 |
Any time |
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David Hearne |
|
07779 020408. |
Leighton Buzzard across to Shefford, and down to Luton |
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Steve Kennedy |
01525 221249 |
07976 242 570 |
|
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Wai Ching Law |
01582 873755 |
07720 783 985 |
Kensworth, Whipsnade, Dunstable area. Anytime. Would prefer with experienced beekeeper |
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Paul Stanbury |
01525 872587 |
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Edward Thomas |
01582 866504 |
07759 129 682 |
Any time, Luton, Dunstable, Houghton Regis |
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Claire Waite |
01442 382466 |
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Paul Walton |
01525 630943 |
07941 732 679 |
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KEMPSTON DISTRICT |
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Peter Barker |
01234 851142 |
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Rev. Graham Bradshaw |
01908 583169 |
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Michael Bunyan |
01234 768648 |
07982 587 902 |
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Carl Durnford |
01908 586066 |
07788 561 554 |
Any time, Woburn |
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Andrew & Fiona Eelbeck |
01908 551886 |
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Bart King |
01908 612769 |
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Stephen Kinsey |
01908 365064 |
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Sue Lang |
01234 764180 |
07879 848 550 |
Most times |
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Hugh & Avril Taylor |
01908 583172 |
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Aspley Guise / Cranfield |
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LEIGHTON BUZZARD DISTRICT |
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Andrew Beer |
01525 240235 |
07968 277 247 |
Leighton Buzzard / Aylesbury / Milton Keynes |
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Mike Bensley |
01908 230261 |
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John Dietsch |
01908 640786 |
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Cliff Herring |
01525 372952 |
07802 466 023 |
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Rex Lathwell |
01525 756388 |
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David & Rose Tucker |
01525 242244 |
07966 642 417 |
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Andrew Ullyett |
01525 750643 |
07788 423 700 |
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LUTON DISTRICT |
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Colin Hall |
01582 720539 |
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David & Theo Green |
01582 622749 |
07798 518 768 |
Harpenden, St Albans, Luton. Evenings, some days |
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David & Paul Hanham |
01582 410508 |
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Len Harvey |
01582 520701 |
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Susan Melville |
01582 715704 |
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Rashmikant Patel |
01582 573998 |
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Philip Penman |
01582 455185 |
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Claire Regan |
01582 715816 |
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Patricia Woods |
01582 529151 |
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NORTH EAST BEDS DISTRICT |
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Richard Smith |
01234 771229 |
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Colin Devonshire |
01234 771251 |
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Christopher Lewis |
01234 823618 |
07785 506 378 |
Bedford, North Beds |
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Mike Muncaster |
01480 860813 |
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Paul Rubens |
01234 771590 |
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Ray Smith |
01234 771558 |
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NORTH WEST BEDS DISTRICT |
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Leonard D’Agnello |
01234 720415 |
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Peter Dilley |
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07729 007 884 |
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Robert Gibson |
01933 418778 |
07713 146 380 |
Evenings / weekends |
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Sheila Guymer |
01234 720448 |
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Helen Vaughan |
01234 720641 |
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SANDY DISTRICT |
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Stuart Allen |
01480 218373 |
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Bill Haigh |
01767 654964 |
07860 235 210 |
½ hr from Gamlingay |
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Linda & Glyn Taylor |
01480 476266 |
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Wally Thrale |
01767 225846 |
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Mark Wilsher |
01767 651649 |
07711 569 822 |
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SHEFFORD DISTRICT |
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Anthony Clark |
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07903 632 868 |
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Robin Dartington |
01462 450707 |
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Alan Frost |
01462 817378 |
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David & Tracy Stephen |
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07973 405 995 |
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