Swarms
If you have a swarm of honey bees you want removed from your property,
one of our beekeepers may be able to help you.
BEFORE you contact us, it is essential to know which type of insects you have, because we only deal with honey bees.
It is very common for people to confuse wasps and bumble bees with the honey bee.
If you have a bumble bee colony, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust has advice should you absolutely have to move one.
Compare what you have on your property to the pictures.
Wasp
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Bumble Bee
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Honey Bee
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Removing a swarm of honey bees
Swarming is the way honey bees make new colonies. The new colony leaves the mother hive and rests temporarily whilst searching for a new place to live.
Typically the swarm rests in a tree or bush (as in the picture above) for anything between an hour and a couple of days. A swarm will normally move on and the bees in a swarm will ignore you unless they feel you are threatening them.
However a hanging swarm should be removed by a beekeeper as, if it does move on, it may well end up in a chimney or other unsuitable location.
Never call the 999 services unless it is an emergency – this is very unlikely.
If you have a swarm of honey bees, contact one of our swarm controllers who may be prepared to send someone to remove the swarm if it is accessible.
Beekeepers may charge £30 for this service in order to cover for the various expenses incurred in re-locating a swarm. Do not call us if you have wasps – contact your local council or exterminator.
ONLY if you have a swarm of honey bees should you contact one of our swarm collectors.
Romford Beekeepers Swarm Collectors
If you have a swarm of honey bees, contact one of our swarm collectors below. We have provided the area and their postcode so you can choose the one closest to you first.
Please remember this is not the emergency services. We are not available 24 hours a day and sometimes we will not be able to help.
If you do not hear back from one, try the next on the list.
Brentwood (CM14)
Nick Messenger – 07775 631978
Brentwood (CM15)
Paul Wiltshire – 07870 258192
Dagenham (RM8)
Zak Bickhan – 07879 616890
Dagenham (RM10)
Annette Friday – 07850 419709
Grays (RM16)
Dean Sykes RM16 07930 326245
Hornchurch (RM11)
Norman McDonald – 01708 447791 or 07807 707419
Hornchurch (RM12)
Filippo Negri – 01708 440068 or 07423 015420
Ilford
Padraig Floyd – 07894 419800
Rainham (RM13)
Elizabeth Davies – 01708 553361 or 07799 135907
Adam Ozbek – 07917 731653
Romford (RM4)
Roger Honey – 07889 785089
