Northamptonshire Beekeepers' Association (NBKA) Registered Charity No. 295593

Copyright © NBKA 2007-2009

A member organisation representing beekeepers in the County of Northamptonshire

Swarm Retrieval

The Association operates a voluntary swarm retrieval service throughout the county as a public service. If you encounter a swarm please don't panic, leave the bees undisturbed and telephone one of the Swarm Co-ordinators listed below. Apart from giving your name, address and telephone number, it will be helpful if you can give as much information as possible - size of the swarm, its location, height from the ground and when the swarm arrived. Arrangements will be made for the nearest available beekeeper to contact you with a view to capturing and removing the swarm.

Swarm Co-ordinator Brian Dennis

Do seek assistance as soon as possible. Once a swarm has gone into a chimney or cavity, it is usually difficult to remove.

Beekeepers are not insured and would be foolish to risk life or limb or risk damage to property.

REMEMBER Swarm Co-ordinators and Collectors are VOLUNTEERS. They may be at work or otherwise busy and will not always be available to respond immediately. The service is to remove swarms of honey bees from accessible places. The beekeeper may be willing to tackle wasp nests and bumblebee nests or give advice - but the beekeeper's interest is primarily in honey bees.

The beekeeper acts as an individual and not on behalf of the Association. A charge may be made or a donation to the Association requested. In the latter case if you are a UK taxpayer you can Gift Aid your donation.

Some recently collected swarms (Click on image to view a larger version)