Charity says bees on the move nothing to panic about

The British Beekeepers Association has launched its annual Swarm Savers initiative.

The charity says this time of year is when honey bee swarms start taking flight across the UK. 

Swarming is usually limited to a couple of months but many may not survive without the public's help.

The BBKA has thousands of trained beekeepers across the country on standby to safely rescue and rehome honey bee swarms completely free of charge.

While swarming is a natural and vital part of a honey bee colony’s life cycle, and bees themselves are a vital part of Britain's pollination food chain, up to 80 per cent of swarms perish if they don’t find a suitable home - a statistic that underscores the urgency of public awareness and support.

With the growing threat of the yellow-legged asian hornet - a predator that can decimate honey bee colonies - supporting the survival and safe rehoming of these swarms has never been more important.

Diane Drinkwater, chair of the BBKA, said: “There’s something truly magical about witnessing a honey bee swarm. 

"It’s how a colony reproduces; a natural marvel where thousands of bees work together to protect their queen and find a new home. But without help, many never make it.”

When a person sees a swarm, they should above all stay calm. Despite the noise and scale, swarming honey bees are usually docile. Their main focus is protecting their queen and not hurting humans. People should keep a safe distance and not attempt to move or destroy the swarm.

They should also identify whether it is indeed a honey bee swarm, and if you’re unsure take a clear photo and contact a BBKA swarm collector. Identification resources can be found at https://www.bbka.org.uk/ and the public can use the BBKA's interactive Swarm Map to locate a local volunteer swarm collector

Diane Drinkwater said: “We know many people are fascinated or concerned by swarms but by knowing what to do, we can all help honey bees and make sure they’re around for generations to come.”

Honey bees are the only insect to swarm in the UK and the BBKA beekeepers are unable to help with the removal of the nests of any of the other more than 250 species of bees found in the UK.

The charity representing around 30,000 beekeepers across the UK. Celebrating more than 150 years of supporting beekeepers and best practice, the BBKA trains beekeepers, educates the public, rescues honey bee swarms and supports critical environmental campaigns including action against the yellow-legged Asian hornet, neonicotinoid use and promoting local honey.