Please remember that swarm collection is done by volunteer beekeepers at their own discretion.
Please have the answers to the following questions ready when you contact a local beekeeper.
The beekeeper will need to know where the swarm is and how long it has been there. A few questions you are likely to be asked:
- Describe what you have seen or ideally send a picture.
- Size of cluster/how many (e.g. football size etc. – remember honey bee swarms are thousands not a dozen)?
- Location/access/parking (indoors, outdoors, chimney, etc)?
- Height (e.g. 1st floor, roof top)?
- How long have they been there?
- Have you called anyone else?
- Address/location/directions/parking including postcode?
- Your name and contact number?
Steps for contacting a beekeeper:
- Please zoom in to your local area.
- Click on one of the bees and you will find a volunteer swarm collector's contact details.
- Prepare your answers to the above questions and contact the volunteer. Please remember that we are volunteers and may not be able to come immediately.
- If the nearest beekeeper cannot or does not answer, please try another beekeeper.
- However, if you get in touch with one volunteer, who has said that they will come, please do not ring others.