Swarm Collectors List

[For want of a better word]

have you joined your local BKA?
and then attended a few meetings?
you'd usually get to meet a few local swarm collectors who would probably only be too pleased to share their knowledge and experience with you.

councils usually won't take names from individuals, only associations, as that way they know the beekeeper is covered by Public Liability Insurance whan collecting swarms

councils usually won't take names from individuals, only associations, as that way they know the beekeeper is covered by Public Liability Insurance whan collecting swarms[

Where are you getting your facts from ?

Methinks we are getting into deep water here!

Just playing the devil's advocate in the cause of clarity !

 

[tonybloke]

Where are you getting your facts from ?

Methinks we are getting into deep water here!

Just playing the devil's advocate in the cause of clarity !

erm, from here (BBKA website, Members area)
Public Liability Insurance
BBKA has an insurance policy that covers individual beekeepers, who are members of the BBKA (whether joining as individual members, or as registered or partner members of their local association that is in turn a member of the BBKA).
The Public Liability relates to beekeeping activities of those members noted above in the UK and has a £10,000,000 limit of liability.


I got my 100 metres swimming badge, so I'm ok with deep water,

 

[For want of a better word]

I got my 100 metres swimming badge, so I'm ok with deep water,


at below 50 deg F survival time is not very long ! the sea around here ( and the Great Grey Green Tamar River... all set about with social housing ) is well below that at the moment...

Insurance... when does that ever pay out then ?
are you sure it is not Feb 2nd?

 

[tonybloke]

I got my 100 metres swimming badge, so I'm ok with deep water,


at below 50 deg F survival time is not very long ! the sea around here ( and the Great Grey Green Tamar River... all set about with social housing ) is well below that at the moment...

Insurance... when does that ever pay out then ?
are you sure it is not Feb 2nd?

still got a north sea survival suit somewhere in the loft, shall I dig it out?
tony, 3 miles south, and 13m above great yarmouth, (built on a sand bank, btw)

I used to cross the Tamar regularly, when I lived in Cornwall.

 

[richardbees]

I'm on the list - and got a call last week about a swarm in an (unused) chimney which arrived 4 years ago. The caller says the bees are still active and a neighbour thinks she saw a swarm issuing last summer.

This matter is under advisement!

 

[For want of a better word]

used to cross the Tamar regularly, when I lived in Cornwall.

and the Cremmyll ferry is still going !

 

[tonybloke]

used to cross the Tamar regularly, when I lived in Cornwall.

and the Cremmyll ferry is still going !

I last used that whilst visiting Cornwall ( East Looe) on our honeymoon, 10 yrs ago.

 

[For want of a better word]

East Looe..... land of the AMMs... which do not as everyone knows SWARM !!!!

​

 

[tonybloke]

East Looe..... land of the AMMs... which do not as everyone knows SWARM !!!!

​

yep that's where i lived

 

[psafloyd]

psa floyd....that is completely untrue.

It may be that your LOCAL bka has set its own rules but I can assure you that the documents sent to local bka secretaries makes no mention whatsoever of needing a Basic qualification for the National BBKA list!!! I have now had to write this twice. We have extremely experienced bee farmers and others on our collector list who have never done a BBKA exam and I intend to keep it that way.

Susbees, I didn't say it was true, but it could be.

It matters not. The list has been farmed out to local associations and how will they determine who should qualify.

The basic level is not only a reasonable benchmark, but will be used by some associations as the qualification to be included on the list. This may encourage some who have not taken the basic to actually do so.

 

[rockdoc]

This is not a route around this issue for everyone, but I decided last year to contact local pest control companies, tree surgeons and local builders. I asked if they had a local beekeeper they called when they were asked to remove a swarm. None had so I offered my services, confirming I was covered by BBKA insurance. I had more calls this way than from the official BBKA list. I (hopefully) did not step on any toes and was able to gain some excellent experience, as was the newbie that accompanied me on two occasions. I politely suggest this as an option to those who wish to get experience this year rather than wait until they are accepted onto whatever lists are being compiled by whoever.

 

[Robbie & Jans Bees]

Swarm collecting

Please excuse my pun but I think I knock over a Hornets nest I would just like to collect some bees?

 

[flytrapman]

I was on the last list as a collector and coordinater, collected numerous swarms and enjoyed the experience. I have asked my local branch to nominate me.
But was wondering if you have to be nominated by your branch to be on the list how does a individual member get to be on the list, as they do belong to a branch

 

[onriver]

I've just asked my branch as well - it'll be interesting to see how this pans out

 

[susbees]

I was on the last list as a collector and coordinater, collected numerous swarms and enjoyed the experience. I have asked my local branch to nominate me.
But was wondering if you have to be nominated by your branch to be on the list how does a individual member get to be on the list, as they do belong to a branch

The list is closed this year with nominations only from branch returns. Part of the reason is that there were complete beginners, some without bees at all and just after free ones, putting their names down as co-ordinators (not just collectors - we had one, the BKA north of us also). Far better that the associations have a local list on their website (all three associations here do) for local contact and a few numbers on the National site which can then be fairly spread around (we operate on postcodes, it works well).

Out of interest flytrapman, how many of those numerous swarms did you pass on to new beekeepers or those on your BKA list wanting a swarm?

 

[flytrapman]

Out of interest flytrapman, how many of those numerous swarms did you pass on to new beekeepers or those on your BKA list wanting a swarm?[/QUOTE]

I passed on over 60%, after August I was getting calls from members of the public who had contacted several collectors who where closer than me but refused to attend
I have received the following response from the BBK re the swarm collectors list

Hi XXXXX

Last year we opened the opportunity for members to self nominate as there were not enough Swarm Collectors put forward by the Associations to adequately cover the country. In 2011 15,000 people used the Swarm Collector facility and I thank you for responding to the calls you received.

The system, as requested by the Associations is that they nominate the Collectors and Coordinators, however if we do not have adequate coverage we will use the self nomination system again. However, we would recommend that you speak to your Association secretary about them including you within their swarm collector list. Obviously we hope that the swarms collected are disseminated within the divisional guidelines rather than for personal commercial gain. If we need to operate the self nomination scheme we will contact those who were listed in 2011 to advise them by email.

With reference to Individual members, these members will be contacted about joining the scheme separately.

I hope that this answers your questions, if you need additional information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind Regards

XXXXX

 

[susbees]

Um yes ftm, exactly what I said nine days ago first para post 7! Excepting that I didn't mention Individual members who are not the same as individual members

I sympathise with you on the "swarm fatigue" issue. Lots of beekeepers ran out of kit last year we're told by the RBI...who is expecting a spike in AFB/EFB next season as a result of emptying the old stuff out of the backs of sheds...

 

[For want of a better word]

Um yes ftm, exactly what I said nine days ago first para post 7! Excepting that I didn't mention Individual members who are not the same as individual members

I sympathise with you on the "swarm fatigue" issue. Lots of beekeepers ran out of kit last year we're told by the RBI...who is expecting a spike in AFB/EFB next season as a result of emptying the old stuff out of the backs of sheds...

​

That is IRRESPONSIBLE !

A responsible beekeeperere would have burned it or totally steralised it surely?
Who would want to loose all their bees to any disease?

 

[merylvingien]

With regards to the honey bee swarm collectors list UK which you can find on google.
It is a page dedicated to swarm collectors and NOT wasp controllers.
The reason this page was added was due to the amount of calls that pest controllers get for bee swarms, which most are not geared up to deal with.

I added the page in the hopes that it would list a few people over a wide area that could cover these calls, but it is has snowballed into something else.

I dont have the time to vet each person that lists their name, so i can only hope that people who put their name on the list has some idea on what they are dealing with.

Swarm collection is not rocket science, cut outs can be a bit gutty as rosecottage can comfirm LOL

P.S
Sam, i will need my bee vac back soonish, its getting near to that time again...

P.S * 2 if anyone signs up to the swarm UK list, please only sign once, the page is updated manually to avoid mistakes and i normally wait until i get a dozen or so people before i update the page.

 

[Robbie & Jans Bees]

Mery do you have a link Thanks Robbie