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Well here’s a reality check. UK bee keeping makes an insignificant financial contribution to the UK economy (last defra figures I saw indicated £10m) - other than indirectly through pollination. Stolen bees pollinate just as well as other bees. There’s no evidence to indicate that bee/bee...

I wonder how big a problem bee-theft really is. It was undoubtedly a shock to some in the bee keeping community when it became widely published (mostly via the on-line social media), but given the thousands of bee keepers in this country I’ve not seen any evidence that they’re experiencing a...

Morrisons (and I think B&Q) sell cans of 'Wasp Nest Destroyer' (about 3 quid)- will shoot a jet of foam over a distance of about 20 feet if you don't want to get too close. Just wait until dark (so all the wasps are back) then spray the nest. I've done several in my loft over the years. One can...

Last year I had 59 swarm calls (so I took myself off the list this year). Almost all came direct via the internet. Only five came via the local council (and it appears that I was the only person on their list). It tended to be older people (post 60) or people in council houses who used the...

I missed the link before it was taken down - been googling so that I can decide if it's worth directing people to - is it the one that starts batchgeo.com ??

Myxomatosis killed over 95% of the rabbit population in ‘54, now some 60 years later over 65% of the rabbit population is reckoned to be immune. Not sure how many of this forum’s users can wait that long for honey bees to do the same though . . .

I have just the six hives so I number them one to six . . . in my mind. If the hives aren't being moved around then sticking to a simple counting system is cheap, easy and practical.

Well - the BBKA swarm collection list provides name, address and telephone number of swarm collectors. If I was stealing bees colonies it'd probably be my first port of call - especially those addresses linked to land (eg farms) which might imply out apiaries in secluded locations.

He appeared to be using polythene as a crown board. It's a technique I recall noting on a video, from I think Eastern Europe, that used poly hives. It made inspection a bit quicker - just pop off the roof, roll back the plastic. Any idea if it's in common usage in UK commercial honey production...

there's a good explanation here http://www.apiservices.com/articles/us/rotating_broodnest.htm

The problem with compulsory registration is that unless it's enforceable it will be pointless because there will be no incentive to register - there would be neither a carrot or a stick. To enforce it effectively would probably cost money which would have to come from somewhere - which I suspect...

And a Limited company will mean more cost and paperwork. You'll have to produce annual returns to HMRC (on time or face an automatic £300 fine) and to Companies House and in the correct format - and that might require the services and cost of an accountant unless you already have those skills...

http://www.intralabs.co.uk/oxalic%20acid

Has anyone used these guys for oxalic? (1kg £10 delivered).

To all - the swarms stopped a long time ago . . . maybe next year

Gillybee - what law would that be? Would you point us at the legislation?

Why would they complain about swarms? They could just as easily be from feral colonies. Presumably the locals know that you'll remove swarms for them foc? I've never had a swarm collection where people have been other than fascinated by the swarm - especially once they've understood how safe...

I suspect it varies by area of the country. Here there are pestilences of feral colonies that have taken hold in cavity walls and chimneys in suburban housing estates. They swarm on mass every year. People can't afford to have them treated although I suspect that at some point the annoyanc/fear...

Last swarm call three days ago so not over yet but definitely quieting down after a busy May/June.

Yes - misinformed. No requirement to be licensed or trained. Likewise no requirement to register although it is recommended that beekeepers register on FERA's BeeBase - helps to identify location of kept bees and potentially assist if there is a disease outbreak. I'd recommend training as well.