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Thinking about taking on the role of removing bees from non-natural voids, such as buildings? Martyn Belcher, from ABM Pest Control and Mansfield Honey Bees, thinks 2024 will be a great time to start.
Here he explains why.
Save the bees - it's short and catchy, and crucially it's effective. This has gradually become more obvious in my 10 years of offering bee removal services to customers, with each year becoming more active.
It's all down to awareness. With the awareness that wild bees can now be saved instead of destroyed, the increasing number of people requesting removal instead of lethally treating has started to gain momentum.
I’ve noted this season more than ever the amount of removals where the colony has only just moved in, so customers have been much quicker to spot issues and ask for help.
This is making the removal task far easier, with less time and stress on the colonies, less repairs and less time working at height.
I think it's down to the stories the industry and other associated industries are sharing on social media, but also from our perspective, raising the profile of this specific removal service we offer.
A fair few removals have come to me from my local bee group, which I’m now on the committee for.
With every trade, knowing the relevant legislation is key to staying safe for both the customer and you. And training is required, so build a relationship with either a local beekeeper or contact the British Beekeepers Association.
There are also businesses that offer bee removal training; if you need pointing in the right direction, BPCA's training team can help.
Network with local tradesmen too, so that you can pass repairs to them and even use for access requirements, and for their knowledge of building regulations (which can be very important depending on the location of the colony).
Live removal of bees offers great public relations opportunities for businesses. Especially with pest control, where often the perception is that we don't care about animals. It's nice to prove people wrong!
And with the UKBR profile now building momentum and being recognised even by the national press, saving bees is certainly the way forward.
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