May 6, 2025
2 min read
top of page
Beekeepers Ready To Rescue Spring Swarms
It’s that time of year when honey bee swarms start taking flight across the UK. Swarming is usually limited to a couple of months but many may not survive without your help.
The UK charity, the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA), has launched its annual Swarm Savers initiative with thousands of trained beekeepers across the country on standby to safely rescue and rehome honey bee swarms completely free of charge.
While swarming is a natural and vital part of a honey bee colony’s life cycle, up to 80 per cent of swarms perish if they don’t find a suitable home - a statistic that underscores the urgency of public awareness and support.
With the growing threat of the yellow-legged asian hornet - a predator that can decimate honey bee colonies - supporting the survival and safe rehoming of these swarms has never been more important.
Commenting on the situation, Diane Drinkwater, chair of the BBKA said:
“There’s something truly magical about witnessing a honey bee swarm. It’s how a colony reproduces; a natural marvel where thousands of bees work together to protect their queen and find a new home. But without help, many never make it.”
What should you do if you see a swarm?
Stay calm. Despite the noise and size, swarming honey bees are usually docile. Their main focus is protecting their queen and not hurting humans.
Keep a safe distance and do not attempt to move or destroy the swarm.
Correctly identify whether it is a honey bee swarm - if you’re unsure, take a clear photo and contact a BBKA swarm collector. You can find identification resources here.
Use the BBKA's interactive Swarm Map to locate a local volunteer swarm collector
Diane Drinkwater added:
“We know many people are fascinated or concerned by swarms but by knowing what to do, we can all help honey bees and make sure they’re around for generations to come.”
Honey bees are the only insect to swarm in the UK and the BBKA beekeepers are unable to help with the removal of the nests of any of the other more than 250 species of bees found in the UK.
Most Read
V12 Retail Finance Q3 Data Shows Home Improvement Finance More Than Doubling
New quarterly data from V12 Retail Finance shows that UK consumers continued to turn to point-of-sale finance for high-value purchases in the third quarter of 2026.
Wellington’s Shotguns To Pull In The Crowds
Two astonishing shotguns owned and used by the Duke of Wellington when he was Prime Minister have emerged 174 years after he died.
Categories
Most Read
V12 Retail Finance Q3 Data Shows Home Improvement Finance More Than Doubling
New quarterly data from V12 Retail Finance shows that UK consumers continued to turn to point-of-sale finance for high-value purchases in the third quarter of 2026.
Wellington’s Shotguns To Pull In The Crowds
Two astonishing shotguns owned and used by the Duke of Wellington when he was Prime Minister have emerged 174 years after he died.
Categories
Stafffinders Releases Its First Ever Christmas Film
After 55 years of helping businesses across Scotland find the right people, family-run recruitment agency Stafffinders has released its first-ever Christmas film.
Austrian Space Forum Tests Mars Experiments At Gebrüder Weiss
The Gebrüder Weiss site in Wels became a testing ground for the AMADEE-27 Mars analog mission at the end of October.
Recent Posts
bottom of page