Bee swarms
Date posted: Wednesday 13th April 2022
Swarm of bees
Bee swarms are a natural process for honey bees, the purpose is to reproduce colonies and maintain genetic diversity.
Bee swarms generally occur in spring and early summer (April through to mid-July).
Although alarming, bee swarms are non-threatening because they are in pursuit of a new home and until that is established they are not, as a colony, defensive of that new location.
Bee keepers aim to avoid swarms occurring through carefully managing their colonies but it’s not always possible to prevent a swarm leaving the hive.
If you have a swarm settle on your plot please don’t panic. Just let us know and we will promptly remove it and give it a new home in a safe place. Please email the swarm location to plotholderscommittee@rpa.org.uk who will notify the bee keepers or look on the notice board for bee keepers direct mobile numbers.