Want a Swarm?

Swarm hotline 07561 147193

Buying a swarm

Getting hold of a swarm can be a useful way of starting or adding to your bee population. Look at the February Tip on sourcing bees for other options.

We will collect swarms of honeybees when asked by a member of the public. These will often be made available to our members on a first come, first served basis. Typically, the recipient of the swarm will be a member of the club, whose apiary site is more than 3 miles from the swarm collection site – as this will minimise the chances of the swarm absconding back to the collection location.

If you would like to be added to the ‘list’ of those who would like a swarm please indicated this on the annual membership form, or email swarms@swhbk.gmail.com

Once on the list, during the swarm season you may receive a call from an unknown mobile number. It is likely to be one of the Swarm Collectors from the club. If the call is not answered, then we will simply move onto the next number of the list of members who requested a swarm.

What will I need?

You must have suitable equipment immediately available in which to house the bees. They would normally arrive in the swarm collector’s cardboard box! And be prepared to be asked to accept the bees either late in the evening or first thing in the morning.

Collecting a swarm

Whilst the club does not offer training in collecting swarms, when possible we like new swarm collectors to accompany an experienced collector for their first swarm. However, it is purely down to the willingness of members to determine if they feel confident enough to represent the club and the wider bee keeping community in visiting individual addresses to collect swarms. Swarm collectors are also responsible for providing their own equipment to collect swarms in a safe and secure manner. See April tip on swarm collecting for more information

Managing a swarm

Once you receive a swarm for one of the club’s swarm collectors, it is purely up to the individual member to determine the best course of action, on how to deal with the swarm. Please remember the swarm collector has no idea on the length of time since the swarm left the original colony, the temperament of the swarm, nor the health of the swarm. There are many schools of thought on how best to manage a swarm, so it is up to the recipient of the swarm to decide what works best for them.

Help us raise awareness

You can help us publicise our swarm collection service by putting up posters in your local area such as garden centres, libraries, and community centres are good locations, as is displaying on your front gate post.

Just click here to download a poster to print out copies.