04/05/2024
*Free bee swarm collection*
With the increase in temperature as we come through Spring, the offer of pollen and nectar is rising too and allowing our honey bees to forage for their brood and increase/expand in size. Soon it will become too snug in their hives and they will be producing new queens to divide naturally. Before the new queen hatches the old queen will leave her home followed by 1/3 of her colony to find a new home. This is called a swarm.
Before the scout bees have found a forever home the swarm usually rests in trees (or on fences!) not far away from their old hive. Finding a new home can take a few hours but sometimes even days.
So often though these swarms find themselves in unsuitable locations such as chimneys, sheds or urban environments. These locations can only be temporarily for bees as they might not offer them a safe space all year around. A lot of spaces might not be actively in use such as a chimneys, and you may think they’ll be no hassle to you there for now… but the trouble is that the longer you leave a colony to itself the more it will settle and build a complex hive from wax combs - and even if you manage to remove all the bees the remaining wax combs will be extremely attractive to another swarm next year.. As soon as a hive has settled it will become hard to remove it. This is why it is important to act fast as soon as you spot a swarm arriving.
Seeing so many swarms in urban environments is unfortunately a sign for the constant decrease of habitat. Equally an urban environment is not ideal for a colony due to the lack of year round food sources. It is up to us to act and find them the space which offers food sources year round and a safe home, keeping them warm and dry through the winter without much interruption.
Honeybees are intelligent and calm beings and have no need in most cases to sting. They have to feel seriously threatened to use their sting, especially as they can only sting us once as it costs them their life due to their sting pulling out of their abdomen and getting stuck in our skin.
Why call a beekeeper?
Honeybees are essential creatures for us to survive on this planet, ensuring our food crops as well the reproduction of plants. They are harmless to us and don't deserve to be killed.
By calling a beekeeper you can ensure the continuity of their lives and offering them a safe home.
We at the Cornish Beekeeper studied for 3 years at Europes leading Bee School in South Germany, before working across the globe, we have a very natural approach to bee keeping. We rehome our bees in small groups in pollen and nectar rich locations in Cornwall and South Devon, often on the edge of one of our wildflower meadows (our other day job). We only undertake minimal interactions with the bees focussing on their survival and reproduction rather than solely taking honey from them.. we spend a lot of time supporting them to get through all seasons as often they can struggle for food sources!
If you have found a swarm please get in contact with us, we are also happy to give consultation for fellow beekeepers.
*collections are free if it is a simple situation and easy to reach. If they are in a chimney or harder to reach then we can also help, but it could be chargeable to cover costs & time.
Contact:
07405782009
[email protected]
