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A Guide to the Safe Removal of Honey Bee Colonies from Buildings, Roberts & Stewart
£18.99
A Guide to the Safe Removal of Honey Bee Colonies from Buildings
£18.99
Many wild colonies of honey bees take up residence in buildings, and sometimes they do need to be removed. This book is a superbly detailed and richly illustrated guide to the removal process. I am delighted that the authors have included a thorough discussion of their experiences and recommendations regarding “Trap-out Removals” (aka ”Trap-Outs” and “Cut-Outs”). Removals performed in this way can foster the survival of colonies that have persisted without help from us, and so have shown that they possess the skills needed to cope with their parasites and pathogens. These are colonies that can help us to find our way back to treatment-free beekeeping. (Professor Thomas D. Seeley.)
Clive Stewart is responsible for the creation of the UK Bee Removers (UKBR) in 2020. The first organisation to be recognised specifically for the purpose of the small but growing industry of bee removal.
Stuart Roberts is an active member of the BBKA Examinations Board and a trustee for the International Bee Research Association (IBRA).
VIEW Contents
- The Natural History of the Honey bee as it Relates to Colony Relocation
- How is it that bees find their way into your chimney or cavity wall?
- Swarming
- Finding a New Home
- The behaviour of bees that helps removal and / or swarm collection
- Health, Safety, and Legislation
- Health and safety
- Legislation
- HASAWA
- Building Act
- Asbestos Regs
- Food and Hygiene Regs
- Bees Act 1980
- Do’s and Dont's
- Insurance
- Home insurance
- Business insurance
- Assessment of Colonies in Buildings
- Visual inspection
- The use of thermal cameras
- The use of inspection cameras
- Colony Removal
- Reasons for removal
- Types of removal
- Cut out
- Techniques & methods
- Equipment
- Pros & cons
- Trap Out
- Techniques & methods
- Equipment
- Pros & cons
- Bee welfare & relocation
- Planning a Colony Removal
- Case studies of
- Cut out
- Trap out
- Swarm collection
- Case studies of
- Summary & Conclusions
- Summary
- Conclusions
- About the authors
VIEW Book Review
Reviewed by Ann Chilcott (Scottish Expert Beemaster) and author of THE BEELISTENER
The front and back of the attractive glossy cover contain beautiful photographs, and inside there are many excellent well produced photographs supporting the text and demonstrating clearly the various situations discussed. The font and page layout are pleasing to the eye, and the quality paper feels satisfying to the touch. This book will be taken out into the field and well- thumbed so the reader may want to keep another clean copy at home.
The foreword by Professor Tom Seeley has been thoughtfully written, and the contents page guides the reader through six parts. The book is written in a warm, friendly style, and peppered with good humour. It almost feels as if the authors are right there talking you through the processes. They are real professionals with much experience and over 36 years practical beekeeping between them.
This is one of the most detailed practical handbooks on the bookshelves, and the authors demonstrate great respect and compassion for the welfare of honey bees and the house owners from whose buildings the bees are taken. Health, hygiene and safety are key, and how to secure them and reduce risks are main themes from cover to cover.
Part One introduces the natural history of the honey bee and the behaviour involved with swarming which is essential knowledge for anyone in the bee removal business. It is concise and to the point and written in an easy- to- understand style.
Part Two addresses health and safety and the importance of planning ahead and making a detailed survey before starting the job. “Preparation, preparation, preparation” echoes throughout this gem of a book. There is so much good advice from taking photographs of the removal for clients rather have them looking on and taking risks, to never using ladders as working platforms. The salutary reminder that houses are potentially dangerous places to work, and that there are ca. 4500 deaths annually from asbestos every year in the UK, makes the reader aware that honey bee removers must be adequately trained for the job. The different insurance cover policies needed are explained in detail.
Part Three explains how to assess colonies in buildings before removal and gives accounts of all the equipment needed and the history of their development which the reader will find fascinating. We learn that the thermal camera is essential and it was invented in 1929 as part of air defence following WW1. The bee removalist can use one on their Smartphone. Anyone who thought that endoscopes belonged exclusively in hospitals will be surprised to learn how they are also used in bee removal operations.
Part Four discusses colony removal from different parts of buildings and trees. In some situation these colonies have become a public health nuisance but, interestingly, as many colonies remain in situ as are removed. We learn that the longer a colony remains in a chimney the further down they travel to build comb. A nest can grow by a foot a year.
The reader is given guidance on physically removing the comb and attaching it to frames. “Removing the comb and bees together gives the colony the optimal chance of survival”. The amount of equipment that a bee removalist requires is massive and the authors give a comprehensive list with an explanation of how each piece works. The authors even think of advising on carrying a spare pair of shoes, and the importance of attention to detail, cleanliness, and protecting property is emphasised.
Part Five presents case studies and talks the reader through planning a colony removal.
Part Six summarises and concludes this work with a reminder of the key salient points made previously. The reader is advised that this book is not a substitute for formal training and there is a relevant reminder that “the vocation for beekeeping is potentially no longer about saving bees, but more about responsible beekeeping.”
The book will become part of the essential kit of a bee removalist, but it will end up on many hobby beekeeper bookshelves and local association libraries. It is a timely reminder that bee removals should only be tackled by well- trained specialists.
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