Swarm Collection

The lovely EDBKA qualified beekeepers will collect swarms for free around East Dorset. So if you live in any of the areas shown on this page then please contact us (see details below) and one of our collectors will try to help. All we ask is that you carefully first check if you have honey bees.

What do I do if a swarm of bees is in my garden?

Bees in a swarm are at their most docile and are highly unlikely to sting anyone.

A swarm is a natural process for bees to expand their numbers. They have laid a new Queen in their previous colony and the old Queen is accompanying her old bees to a new home. It’s ‘holiday-time’ and prior to swarming the honey bees will have filled up on honey from their stores and are totally content, prepared for a longish wait.

Because the bees are so full of honey they will be relatively passive and less likely to sting. They will hang in a cluster, usually on a tree branch, whilst they send out scout bees to look for a new home.

However, the scout bees may decide that their perfect new home is your household cavity wall, chimney, rabbit hutch, gas meter box or somewhere where you really do not want them.

Honey Bee Swarm Collectors at the Ready!

If you think you have honey bees then call our swarm coordinator or one of our nearest collectors from the table below.

It would be helpful if you are ready with your address (including postcode), a contact phone number and as full a description as possible of the bees exact location (e.g. on the branch of a tree, on a roof, etc.) and any accessibility difficulties that might require a ladder or other equipment.

If you are unsure whether you have a swarm of honey bees reference to the following page will help BBKA Swarm page

If you have a wasps nest that needs removal we recommend Frank Hayes, South Coast Pest Control, who works in tandem with us, and is available on either 01202 604682, 07525 337472 or their website

Visual comparison of honey bee, bumble bee and wasp
Comparison image of honeybee, bumblebee and wasp

   

AreaWhoContact
Swarm Coordinator – First General ContactJenny Wellman01202 873292
ASHLEY HEATH Ray Ings07884 340678
BERE REGISMark White07747 620920
BOVINGTON Mark White07747 620920
BROADSTONEAlan Baker07943 352002
Karen Cadman07774 440938
Terry Greene07542 402578
Ivor Kemp079325 38491
CANFORD HEATH Alan Baker07943 352002
Karen Cadman07774 440938
Catherine Sandt07969 229037
CHALBURYNick Dewey07548 211007
CORFE CASTLEMartin Battersby07884 296766
CORFE MULLEN Alan Baker07943 352002
Karen Cadman07774 440938
CRANBORNENick Dewey07548 211007
CREEKMOORKaren Cadman07774 440938
ENSBURY PARKClive Hutchings01202 573973
FERNDOWNChris Williams07557 444353
GAUNTS COMMONNick Dewey 07548 211007
GUSSAGEAndrew Barnet01258 841433
HAMWORTHY Mark Garrett07789 515400
HOLTON HEATHSandra Palmer Snellin07771 908666
HORTONNick Dewey07548 211007
LYTCHETT MATRAVERS Sandra Palmer Snellin07771 908666
LYTCHETT MINSTER Mark White07747 620920
NORTHBOURNE Clive Hutchings01202 573973
Chris Williams07557 444353
OAKDALE Karen Cadman07774 440938
Ivor Kemp079325 38491
ORGANFORD Sandra Palmer Snellin07771 908666
PARLEY CROSS Chris Williams07557 444353
POOLE Mark White07747 620920
Ivor Kemp079325 38491
Mark Garrett07789 515400
Catherine Sandt07969 229037
PURBECKPatti Sandham07831 747734
RINGWOODRay Ings07884 340678
STURMINSTER MARSHALLMichael Woodhouse07712 894623
SWANAGE Mark White07747 620920
Patti Sandham01929 439001
Marting Battersby07884 296766
UPTON Mark White07747 620920
Mark Garrett07789 515400
VERWOODJenny Wellman01202 873292
WAREHAMMichael Horton07742 630111
Mark White07747 620920
WEST MOORS Jenny Wellman01202 873292
WIMBORNEMichael Woodhouse07712 894623
Helen Edbrooke07905 820687
Ivor Kemp079325 38491
Andrew Barnet01258 841433
WITCHAMPTON Andrew Barnet01258 841433
Michael Woodhouse07712 894623
WORTH MATRAVERS Patti Sandham01929 439001