{"id":20489,"date":"2019-03-19T18:18:02","date_gmt":"2019-03-19T18:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hbka.org.uk\/?page_id=20489"},"modified":"2026-04-25T12:41:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T11:41:44","slug":"swarm-help","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/hbka.org.uk\/?page_id=20489","title":{"rendered":"Swarm Help"},"content":{"rendered":"

Swarm Collection service<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

Our Beekeepers will do all they can to remove honey bees for you.\u00a0 If you think you have a swarm the please visit the British Beekeeping Association (BBKA) here:\u00a0 Swarm Collection<\/a> .\u00a0 They will help you to check that you do have honey bees and if so will provide contact details for local beekeepers who have registered as collectors.<\/span><\/h2>\n

However, they cannot be called out to assist with other <\/span>types of bees or insects!\u00a0\u00a0 Honeybees form large colonies and usually need a lot more room than within a wall. They have no stripes or fluff and actually look like brown wasps. Most bees in walls are\u00a0 likely to be another sort of native bee. These form small colonies, do no harm, and as valuable pollinators are best left alone if possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have wasps or other insects, you will need to contact either Calderdale Council<\/a> or a private pest control company (or of course just leave them alone!)<\/p>\n

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A Swarm of Bees is one of nature\u2019s wonders.\u00a0 However, if a swarm lands in the wrong place it can create a nuisance to the public or cause expensive damage if it enters a cavity in a building.<\/div>\n

The Halifax and District Beekeepers Association, as with all UK Beekeeping Associations,\u00a0 runs a volunteer swarm collection service.\u00a0 This is a free service, it is not run for profit and the bees are safely re-homed.<\/p>\n

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2025 saw a very significant outbreak of European and American Foulbrood in the Calder Valley. \u00a0These are serious diseases which kill Honey Bees. \u00a0These two types of Foulbrood are also Notifiable Diseases, which means that have to be reported by law.\u00a0 These diseases can be spread by Swarms coming from Beehives infected with Foulbrood.<\/p>\n

The National Bee Unit, which is part of DEFRA,\u00a0 have been working to tackle this specific outbreak and their work is ongoing during 2026.<\/p>\n

As a consequence of this outbreak the Swarm collectors from Halifax Beekeepers Association will be following these protocols.<\/p>\n