Reading & District Beekeepers Association Swarm Statistics
& Swarm Gallery
In addition to collecting swarms of honey bees, RBKA runs a "bee advisory" service. Both services are run on a voluntary basis, with the occasional donation being made by grateful members of the public.
A wide and varied range of calls/emails are received from the public; the council; police etc. These can relate to different types of bees (honey bees, bumble bees, solitary bees) and later in the season, wasps & hornets.
Where possible, callers are always encouraged to "live with" and enjoy bumble bees and solitary bees. Their seasons are short and they play a significant role in the pollination of our food.
The tables below reflect the service provided by our dedicated teams of volunteer beekeepers over the years and the number of RBKA member beekeepers who have benefited from their hard work:
2021 Honey Bee Swarm Season Summary
| Number of swarms collected | 62 |
| Number of colonies created & donated | 6 |
| Number of swarms stayed/colonies survived | 46 |
| Number of new beekeepers with their 1st colony of bees | 5 |
2020 Honey Bee Swarm Season Summary
| Number of swarm call-outs | 97 |
| Number of swarms collected | 82 |
| Number of colonies created & donated | 3 |
| Number of swarms stayed/colonies survived | 76 |
| Number of new beekeepers with their 1st colony of bees | 12 |
2014 Honey Bee Swarm Season Summary
| Number of swarms collected | 79 |
| Number of swarms stayed/colonies survived | 60 |
| Number of new beekeepers with their 1st colony of bees | 13 |
2013 Honey Bee Swarm Season Summary
(Retiring beekeeper, Peter Kimber, kindly donated 3 colonies for the benefit of new beekeepers)
| Number of colonies created from Peter Kimber's 3 colonies | 6 |
| Number of swarms collected | 20 |
| Number of swarms stayed/colonies survived | 24 |
| Number of new beekeepers with their 1st colony of bees | 11 |
2012 Honey Bee Swarm Season Summary
| Number of swarms collected | 64 |
| Number of swarms stayed in hive | 55 |
| Number of new beekeepers with their 1st colony of bees | 14 |
GALLERY OF SWARM COLLECTING IMAGES
Some examples of where our swarm collectors have collected swarms, including the use of Mike Dabbs's "Swarm safe". The "Swarm Safe" is bee friendly and indirectly uses suction from a gentle vacuum cleaner. PLEASE NOTE - it is NOT safe or recommended to use any standard vacuum technology.
Below: Mike Dabbs and Linda Rogerson collecting "low hanging fruit" of bees in a tree
Below left: A swarm of bees congregating on a fence panel Below right: Linda Rogerson with bees residing in a compost bin
Below: Mike Dabbs in action retrieving a swarm using his "Swarm Safe"
(Photos kindly provided by Claire Crame)
