Local beekeepers are often prepared to collect swarms of honeybees.
What is a swarm? Click here to find out.
Please note that beekeepers can not provide any service for wasps nests, bumble bees or masonary bees. The Local Authority may possibly provide a service for wasp nests, otherwise a private pest control contractor can be found via the telephone directory or web search.
It is reasonable for the beekeeper to be reimbursed the travel expense of attending to a swarm, and this should be mentioned before arrival so that you are forewarned and can come to an agreement. Some beekeepers collect a swarm to add bees to their own stocks, some to pass the bees on to another beekeeper (possibly a novice), others simply as a service to the public. But while the bees are being collected a nice cup of tea will rarely be declined. Every swarm that is collected will be checked and cared for.
A swarm will usually fly away within a day or so unless captured but they can be gathered easily by a beekeeper if they are on an accessible bush or tree. Sometimes the swarm is inaccessible or may have established a new home which makes them more difficult to collect. If the bees have moved into a cavity such a chimney, hollow tree or wall, then it may be impossible to collect and, if they are a nuisance, they should be dealt with by a qualified pest control contractor.
To find your nearest Beekeeper and to help you identify the type of bees you have please use the swarm postcode lookup on the British Beekeepers’ Association website
A list of Hampshire Swarm Contacts from our local associations is shown below although you should first use the postcode lookup on the BBKA site to find your nearest beekeeper
| Andover Beekeepers’ Association | April to August please phone 07776429613 |
| Avon Valley Beekeepers’ Association | |
| Basingstoke Beekeepers’ Association | April to August please phone 07580 528482; otherwise please go to association website |
| Fareham & District Beekeepers’ Association | Steve Wilson, 07788 997737 |
| Fleet & District Beekeepers’ Association | Please use BBKA website |
| Meon Valley Beekeepers’ Association | April to August please phone 07951 123 365; otherwise please go to association website |
| Meridian Beekeepers’ Association | Meridian Swarm Collectors. |
| New Forest Beekeepers’ Association | Please go to association website or call Warwick Newson on 07976 258062 |
| Petersfield & District Beekeepers’ Association | Greg Gumming: 07531 901767 |
| Portsmouth Beekeepers’ Association | Please go to association website |
| Romsey & District Beekeepers’ Association | April to September, call 07469 885597; else please go to association website |
| South-West Hampshire Beekeepers’ Association | Please go to association website or call the Swarm Hotline on 07561 147193 |
| Southampton & District Beekeepers’ Association | March to September, call 07766 629763; else please go to association website |
| Winchester & District Beekeepers’ Association | March to September, call (0701) 775 8191; else please go to association website |