Swarming is the honeybee’s natural means of reproduction. One colony will split into two, three, or sometimes more. Each swarm that emerges from a colony of bees will usually form a cluster in a tree or a shrub (a few minutes to several hours) prior to moving off to a new home.
Most beekeepers will do their best to help out when someone is troubled by a swarm of honeybees. A swarm is very often attracted to the vicinity of other bees, so quite often they arrive in a beekeeper’s garden, but sometimes the swarm arrives in a garden where they are not so welcome. If the swarm is hanging in a cluster in the garden, then a beekeeper can remove them without a great deal of difficulty, but if they have entered a building, it is then usually beyond the scope of most beekeepers. Specialist equipment is often required, such as ladders and/or scaffolding, and then there is the risk of damage to property, and the associated insurance implications. Please remember we are a hobbyist organisation and we collect swarms in our spare time - we are volunteers!