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
| Area | Who | Contact | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swarm Coordinator – First General Contact | Jenny Wellman | 01202 873292 | ||
| ASHLEY HEATH | Ray Ings | 07884 340678 | ||
| BERE REGIS | Mark White | 07747 620920 | ||
| BOVINGTON | Mark White | 07747 620920 | ||
| BROADSTONE | Alan Baker | 07943 352002 | ||
| Karen Cadman | 07774 440938 | |||
| Terry Greene | 07542 402578 | |||
| Ivor Kemp | 079325 38491 | |||
| CANFORD HEATH | Alan Baker | 07943 352002 | ||
| Karen Cadman | 07774 440938 | |||
| Catherine Sandt | 07969 229037 | |||
| CHALBURY | Nick Dewey | 07548 211007 | ||
| CORFE CASTLE | Martin Battersby | 07884 296766 | ||
| CORFE MULLEN | Alan Baker | 07943 352002 | ||
| Karen Cadman | 07774 440938 | |||
| CRANBORNE | Nick Dewey | 07548 211007 | ||
| CREEKMOOR | Karen Cadman | 07774 440938 | ||
| ENSBURY PARK | Clive Hutchings | 01202 573973 | ||
| FERNDOWN | Chris Williams | 07557 444353 | ||
| GAUNTS COMMON | Nick Dewey | 07548 211007 | ||
| GUSSAGE | Andrew Barnet | 01258 841433 | ||
| HAMWORTHY | Mark Garrett | 07789 515400 | ||
| HOLTON HEATH | Sandra Palmer Snellin | 07771 908666 | ||
| HORTON | Nick Dewey | 07548 211007 | ||
| LYTCHETT MATRAVERS | Sandra Palmer Snellin | 07771 908666 | ||
| LYTCHETT MINSTER | Mark White | 07747 620920 | ||
| NORTHBOURNE | Clive Hutchings | 01202 573973 | ||
| Chris Williams | 07557 444353 | |||
| OAKDALE | Rich Greening | 07776 201478 | ||
| Paul Heawood | 07739 151601 | |||
| Ivor Kemp | 079325 38491 | |||
| ORGANFORD | Sandra Palmer Snellin | 07771 908666 | ||
| PARLEY CROSS | Chris Williams | 07557 444353 | ||
| POOLE | Mark White | 07747 620920 | ||
| Ivor Kemp | 079325 38491 | |||
| Mark Garrett | 07789 515400 | |||
| Catherine Sandt | 07969 229037 | |||
| PURBECK | Patti Sandham | 07831 747734 | ||
| RINGWOOD | Ray Ings | 07884 340678 | ||
| STURMINSTER MARSHALL | Michael Woodhouse | 07712 894623 | ||
| SWANAGE | Mark White | 07747 620920 | ||
| Patti Sandham | 01929 439001 | |||
| Marting Battersby | 07884 296766 | |||
| UPTON | Mark White | 07747 620920 | ||
| Mark Garrett | 07789 515400 | |||
| VERWOOD | Jenny Wellman | 01202 873292 | ||
| WAREHAM | Michael Horton | 07742 630111 | ||
| Mark White | 07747 620920 | |||
| WEST MOORS | Jenny Wellman | 01202 873292 | ||
| WIMBORNE | Michael Woodhouse | 07712 894623 | ||
| Helen Edbrooke | 07905 820687 | |||
| Ivor Kemp | 079325 38491 | |||
| Andrew Barnet | 01258 841433 | |||
| WITCHAMPTON | Andrew Barnet | 01258 841433 | ||
| Michael Woodhouse | 07712 894623 | |||
| WORTH MATRAVERS | Patti Sandham | 01929 439001 |