Obtaining bees in Kent

[Julie in Ash]

Hi there. So I was here last year generally soaking up the ambience and learning a trick or two. Much debate was had about hive types which caused much jollity. Anyway I am all set to begin and this is officially my first year. I joined my local association, however because I am on the very edge of their catchment area, there was not a mentor for me. Efforts are ongoing to persuade one of the existing mentors to take me on as an additional student, but no luck so far. I am though being offered free loan of a National hive for my first year.

Having no mentor means no access to a special “mates rates” nuc of health screened bees at a cost of £75 which are usually offered to new beginners by our association. (Mentors supply the bees). The association apiary itself suffered losses this winter so no bees there for me either, although I do think they will try and sort me out something if my search is still fruitless after a couple of months.

Ergo, my best chance of getting bees earlier is to catch a swarm. I simply do not have the finances to pay a commercial supplier price for bees I may well end up doing something stupid to. I have two swarm traps out near wild colonies, which are visited by scout bees, but the colonies have swarmed at least once so far and snubbed my traps.

I have my name down on the swarm list at my association, but so do about 20 others. What I want to ask is this... I am in East Kent (not far from Bee Equipment who used to be Mann Lake). Does anyone know of any other local swarm lists I can get my name on? I know I must be patient and it’s early days etc. Just feeling pre-match nerves and really want to get cracking.

 

[Poly Hive]

Good luck Julie.

I would wonder though that they had losses this Winter past as it was probably the easiest wintering season for many years.

Ho hum...

PH

 

[Ian123]

Good luck Julie.

I would wonder though that they had losses this Winter past as it was probably the easiest wintering season for many years.

Ho hum...

PH

The match sticks self combusted

 

[Julie in Ash]

Good luck Julie.

I would wonder though that they had losses this Winter past as it was probably the easiest wintering season for many years.

Ho hum...

PH

I heard a few people lost hives through starvation. A couple due to suspected varroa problems. At the association apiary, the Dracula hive survived but a couple of smaller, weak nucs expired due to varroa. ( Not keen to have a Dracula split! ) Like a lot of associations I guess, the committee is small and experienced but there are large numbers of people with less than 3 years in. Hence the losses I guess. One person lost 3 of 5 to starvation. So I have to wait my turn.

 

[Beefriendly]

I have my name down on the swarm list at my association, but so do about 20 others..

Do something different. When I was in your situation I contacted local tourist info/councils and got my name and telephone number publicised.
Great initially, but eventually far too many phone calls. So be warned.

 

[Ian123]

Put your name down with the police always used to get a few calls from them. I suggest if you get called to a high street you have an experienced beer with you though

 

[Beefriendly]

Put your name down with the police always used to get a few calls from them. I suggest if you get called to a high street you have an experienced beer with you though

That would be an "old ale" then?
Hopefully from Shepherd Neame.

 

[Ian123]

Lol.....beek...the best bit of kit to take with you when collecting a swarm is one of those mist sprayers. Give them a good spray/mist on arrival to prevent them taking off before you get your gear out and ideal for preventing others taking flight when banging or scooping into any box

 

[Antipodes]

It is very difficult here in Tas to get bees. Demand far outstrips supply. We do have "gumtree" here in Australia which is very popular. Anything like that in the UK?
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-free+bee+swarms/k0

 

[Julie in Ash]

It is very difficult here in Tas to get bees. Demand far outstrips supply. We do have "gumtree" here in Australia which is very popular. Anything like that in the UK?
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-free+bee+swarms/k0

We do have Gumtree and I see there’s a few nucs for sale, sadly none reasonably near and again a bit too strong a price for me at this stage when taking into account the petrol to go collect them. I expect to pay if offered a nuc of course, but I can’t stretch the budget that far when I have to buy so many other things.

I am actually excited about the prospect of going out to collect a swarm if I get the chance. Great tip about spraying them, hadn’t thought of that.

 

[Antipodes]

Hi Julie, if you search "bee swarm" on gumtree in Tasmania you see loads of ads for free swarm collection. Likewise on gumtree uk there are plenty if you search...... "bee swarm" , "England".....but if I search "bee swarm", "Kent" I can't see any ads for free swarm removal. I was thinking perhaps you could place an ad there saying you will collect them free of charge in Kent.....

 

[Bakerbee]

Hi there, ive just done an artificial swarm. Im not interested in increasing my colonies. I would be happy to create a nuc up once the virgin has mated i planned to recombine and hated the idea of squishing a beautiful buckfast. If you can get to dorset theyre yours. Im not interested in money for them perhaps frames/foundation replacement costs. Anyway a point to consider if interested is mine are on commercials. Just PM me if interested.

 

[Julie in Ash]

Hi there, ive just done an artificial swarm. Im not interested in increasing my colonies. I would be happy to create a nuc up once the virgin has mated i planned to recombine and hated the idea of squishing a beautiful buckfast. If you can get to dorset theyre yours. Im not interested in money for them perhaps frames/foundation replacement costs. Anyway a point to consider if interested is mine are on commercials. Just PM me if interested.

That’s a very kind and generous offer and yes I will PM you. xx