Harrogate and Ripon Beekeepers

The association offers a swarm collection service during the summer months (from May until July) to collect and rehouse swarms of honey bees.  These swarms can normally only be collected when the bees are outside in a cluster eg on a tree or bush – once they have set up a colony inside (in an airbrick or in the eaves of a house) it is normally ‘too late’ as a beekeeper will not be able to entice them out. We cover a large geographical area (Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge),

 For assistance with a swarm in this area contact:

 Peter Gregory 01423 871303

or

 Jeff Gamberton  01423 771901

If you have a swarm on the fringes of our area, for example nearer Leeds, York or Otley/Ilkley, it would be better to contact their association. Contact details are:-

Leeds – Brian Latham 01132643436

York  - Tom Robinson  01904 626170  (or e-mail  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Wharfedale (Otley/Ilkley/Skipton) - Alan Thompson  01756753062

For in national advise on swarms see the British Beekeepers' Association swarm help webpage. They also host have a comprehensive list of swarm coordinators for the UK.

Swarmsearch often get contacted about other ‘bee related’ matters.  If you come across a bumble bee’s nest (eg a few large ‘furry’ bees going in and out of a compost heap) we would recommend leaving them alone as they are benign and beneficial and if you come across a wasps' nest later in the season, which is proving a nuisance, you may need to get pest control (eg Harrogate Borough Council) to deal with it.