Getting on the Swarm List

    During the swarming season we collect swarms reported to us by members of the public, and these are available at a small cost to our beginners and members. We have a procedure for this, but in a nutshell you will need to complete this form (see link below), pay the required amount into the Association bank account, and then send the form to our Swarm Administrator, Andy Peat on 07854 207632. All of the information you need can be found on the form.

We make a charge of £10 (which is paid into branch funds) if you are able and competent safely to collect a swarm yourself, or £20 if you would like an established swarm collector to recover the swarm for you. If you choose this option you will need to make arrangements with the swarm collector to pick up the swarm from them. If you are a beginner, you will also need to include a fee to upgrade to full membership at the time you complete the swarm request form, and of course you will need to have your hive and all other appropriate equipment ready to house and manage your new colony. If we cannot provide you with a swarm by the end of the swarming season (usually the beginning of July) we will refund your money.

Click here for the Swarm procedure

Click here for the Swarm Application form 2024 - Please wait until the current year's form is published, usually in March or early April. Please do not send a form for a previous year.

We usually have a waiting list for swarms, so as soon as your request form is received you will receive an email confirming receipt of your form, and an alphabetic character which indicates where you are in the waiting list when compared with the regularly updated “Next Recipient” character published in the green box above. So for example, if the “Next Recipient” character is F and your character is G or H, then you know you may get a phone call soon. When this stage is reached, you must be as easy to contact as possible. If you cannot be contacted when a swarm is available, it will go to the next person on the list. At busy times, we sometimes have more than one swarm at a time, and several have been known to turn up in a day, so bear this in mind if your character is getting close.