Swarms

SWARMING

Swarming is an entirely natural activity, and is the bees’ way of perpetuating the colony by the old queen and her flying bees leaving to find a new home.

They wait a short distance from their old hive while they send out scouts to find suitable accomodation; during the summer, you may find a ball of bees hanging from a branch, or in a hedgerow, awaiting their reports before making a decision and moving on.  Usually, that’s the last you see of them, but occasionally they may end up in a chimney or in other parts of buildings where they can cause a nuisance.

If you do find a swarm, please get in touch with us, and we’ll try to come out to collect it.

Have a look at this information sheet sheet to help you to identify whether you have a swarm of honey bees … or bumble bees!

Contact Information

 

 

WDBKA Swarm 

Co-ordinator

Bridport area

 

Carole Brown

 

01308 456210

 

07527 781039

 

 

Burton Bradstock

 

tbc

 

 
tbc

 

Loders

 

Liz Moxom

 

 

01308 485504

 

Toller Porcorum

 

 

Peter Crabbe

 

07484 103055

 

Maiden Newton

 

Trevor Ford

 

 

07778 268323

 

Sydling St Nicholas

 

Chris Thompson

 

 

01300 341888  

 

Chideock and west

 

 

Sarah More

 

01297 489489

 

Marshwood area

 

 

Caroline Dilke

 

 

 

01297 678741

 

07543 709846  

FURTHER INFORMATION

For other areas in Dorset, please contact the local associations.  You can find their contact details through the Dorset County Beekeepers Association website.
If you’d like to know more about swarms, there’s some information on the British Beekeepers Association website, including guidance on distinguishing between honeybees, bumblebees and wasps. You will also find a map which shows the location and contact details of registered swarm collectors across the country.