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| A swarm which is about to land. The noise from their wings can be quite loud. |
A small swarm which has settled on a branch. |
Don't panic if you do come across a swarm. The bees are usually quite docile while they are swarming. To be on the safe side keep children and pets well away so that the bees are not disturbed, close any open windows overlooking the swarm, then telephone a beekeeper. A swarm may not stay in place for more than a few hours, so please ask for help without delay. Listed below are members of the Newbury and Vale & Downland Associations who are happy to collect swarms. Although the assistance given to the public is generally provided by the beekeeper free of charge, a donation towards the beekeeper's cost of fuel would be appreciated. |
Who to contact for assistance
Newbury, Berkshire, Area:
| Newbury and North-east Keiron Bolster 01189 302144 |
Newbury and North-west Michael White 01635 44945 |
| Newbury and South-east Serena Watts 07887 677929 |
Newbury and South-west Kai Marshall 07909 743885 |
Wantage, Oxfordshire, Area:
| Lilian Valentine | 01235 767524 | |
| Mike Taylor | 01235 751646 |
| If you are not in the Newbury or Wantage area then call your local beekeeping association. If you don't know how to contact your local beekeeping association call your local council, or the police, or the public library. |
| Please note that any assistance given by a beekeeper is provided on the basis that neither the Association nor its members can be held responsible for any inadvertent misadventure during the process of collecting swarms. Beekeepers are not builders, tree surgeons or steeplejacks! |
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More about swarms
A colony of bees reproduces itself by swarming. In the spring, when conditions are favourable, the queen will lay lots of eggs and the colony will rapidly grow in numbers. When the hive starts to become overcrowded, the worker bees will place one or more eggs in special queen cells, and feed the emergent larvae with special food to rear a new queen or queens. When the first new queen is due to emerge from her cell (this takes about 16 days), the older worker bees will fill themselves with honey and will fly off with the old queen to found a new colony. |
| Home page | Newbury Beekeepers | Vale & Downland Beekeepers |
Updated 19 July 2009