PPC118 | Technical

Can’t smoke ‘em out - bees in a chimney

This particular job started the way most of them do - a call came into the office with an enquiry regarding bees in a chimney. Nothing particularly odd about that, until we travelled to site to carry out our survey. 

The property was situated in a little hamlet between Leicester and Northampton, and positioned on the side of a very busy trunk road running along the county borders. 

An early nineteenth century cottage with three chimney stacks, two with clear asbestos issues and the third sat at the gable end which faced the road side, showing no obvious asbestos complications. 

All but one of the chimneys were redundant, and it was the stack at the side of the road that was noted to have honey bees. 

External observations identified that the stack was a double walled dual flue; this meant the single stack was two courses thick, and divided by a central wall creating two flues.

In this instance the flue pattern saw these flues servicing a fireplace on the ground floor and one on the first floor. 

Closer external observations saw bees entering and exiting both chimney pot caps, potentially indicating two colonies or that the central wall (also known as the mid-feathers) was in poor condition and allowed the bees to move from one to the other.

It eventually transpired that it was indeed two colonies one in each flue. 

The external inspection also identified that the chimney had a slight lean towards the roadside, and whilst the structure appeared sound it needed to be considered in the risk assessment. 

Our company policy is that any chimney which has a lean of more than 1.5% is to be surrounded with supporting scaffold that prevents the stack going over, should the structure become unsafe.

Internal examinations to potentially inspect the chimney flues individually were hampered by fireplaces being capped off, preventing us from doing any camera work.

Additionally, thermal imaging in the loft space was inconclusive due to the external height of the stack and bees not being low enough down either of the two flues to create a heat signature. 

The largest hurdle in the entire complexity of this project was the scaffold. Due to the slim pavement outside and the regulatory width the scaffold had to be, meant the structure would stand just inside the road. This would require traffic management. 

Timing of the work was crucial, as windows of opportunity were narrow due to other planned road works and maintenance in the local area. 

Traffic management was subcontracted out and they communicated with the local authority, which gave us a number of dates to work to. 

Eventually the day came and, thanks to all the planning and team management, we were able to execute the project with no serious problems. We removed and relocated both colonies from each of the flues over a period of five days. 

"Don’t underestimate the importance of networking in this space, as you’ll likely need that assistance."

Bee asbestos aware

Asbestos was mentioned in the previous case study and is found regularly in honey bee removal situations.

Having completed Cat A (awareness), Cat B, (unlicensed non-notifiable/unlicensed notifiable) and Cat C (licensed removal) training for asbestos removal operations, we have extensive experience in this type of work.

It has to be said that this sort of bee removal should not be attempted without the correct training or the correct professional support systems in place. 

We have all the correct insurance and training to complete multiple types of removals, and have access to a wealth of knowledge through a network of professional supporting subcontractors. Don’t underestimate the importance of networking in this space, as you’ll likely need that assistance.

All asbestos removal work so far in relation to our own work has only ever been non-notifiable, unlicensed removal. This can be carried out by those who are competent and hold a Cat B certificate that is renewed annually.

We were called to an issue in the home counties which saw us attend a site with bees covering a wall at the top of a three-storey building.

Initially it could be presumed that this was a colony looking to move in. However, on closer inspection and after a very long and intensive survey, it was in fact discovered that the bees had been in place behind the building's fascia for some time - years, in fact!

And as a consequence of the warm weather that we were experiencing, the colony had actually collapsed inside 
the building.

In addition, there was honey running down and around the window and frame. 

As part of our survey we ask to see the asbestos register: a document that should be held by commercial properties in relation to any asbestos currently within any building that was built before 2005. 

This property met that criteria, but did not have an up-to-date report. However, the previous documentation did identify that the fascias between windows and the roof were likely to contain asbestos. 

At the time we did not have appropriate training to take an asbestos sample or remove such an item in relation to the 
work involved. 

As a result, we hired an asbestos removal specialist, who completed the asbestos sampling and removal with the bees in place. 

All necessary PPE was worn, and disposed of in accordance with the risk assessment and method statement provided by the asbestos removal company for a non-notifiable unlicensed removal. 

We were in place to assist with the management of the bees during the asbestos removal, which went very well indeed. The asbestos was removed without any fibre release or disturbance, and in one complete piece. 

We then went on to remove the bees as normal and relocate the colony, taking them back to our quarantine apiary. The building was reinstated and proofed using a non-asbestos containing material and redecorated in the company colours. Job done!

"This sort of bee removal should not be attempted without the correct training or professional support."

Notifiable asbestos work requires the person(s) carrying out the work to give notification to the relevant authorities, for example the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the local authority. Non-notifiable asbestos work does not have these additional requirements. The decision on whether it’s notifiable or not is risk-based.

Bees behind bars

We often get calls to some interesting places and one of my favourites is when we’re asked to bust the bees out of prison. The mere thought of going along to break into the wall of a prison in order to remove the occupants, who moved in of their own free will to set up home next to some of the country’s most dangerous criminals, is ironic and quite funny to me. 

The processes that are in place to keep people in and others out are detailed and meticulous. Identity checks to the maximum, and permissions for every non-occupational activity are required. 

Some of these jobs have taken as long as three years to plan and execute. Risk assessments and method statements going backwards and forwards, tool list approvals and vehicle checks at various stages, all form part of the process. 

Yes, it can be frustrating, but the end result is very much worth it, and even more so when others tell you it’s not doable. 

We have now removed a number of colonies from the properties of two or three Category B HMPs up and down the country, and surveyed a number across the board all the way up to Category A. 

Not everyone wants them removed and not all require removing, but those that do certainly create a challenge. 

We have removed bees from office areas and once you’re in place for these, it’s no different to doing any other removal. 

In contrast, we’ve also removed colonies from cell walls, which brings a unique set of complications to the project. For example, the need to protect oneself from falling debris and bodily fluids being dropped from above, if you are working directly below living quarters, can be tough! Though not a common problem, it’s definitely one to be wary of.

You also have to be escorted at all times, have items checked in and out; it all adds to the variety this work brings! It’s a whole different world inside the walls of a prison, and a lot more restricted than you first think it is. 

As you’d expect, we have fewer photos of our prison bee removals. You’ll just have to imagine what it looked like!

Happy birthday, UK Bee Removers!

The entity originally known as the UK Bee Removers (UKBR), and based within a Facebook group of the same name, will celebrate its fifth birthday this March. 

It was created in the first week of the original Covid-19 lockdown, and it was in response to an ever-growing problem at the time. Members of the public simply could not locate specialists to undertake bee removals, having been turned down by both pest control professionals and beekeepers alike. 

Having trained a number of pest controllers and beekeepers in live honey bee removals, Clive Stewart, along with the assistance of Tim Wylie, started the Facebook group as a first point of contact. 

It soon became inundated with the vast number of enquiries, which led to the group being overwhelmed. It also showed that there was a growing industry of its own in need of some management, which saw the implementation of a paid subscription outside of the social media platform, streamlining the process. 

The early days saw many attempts at mediating potential clients and contractors and an automated directory service was refined. 

Now commonly referred to as the UKBR, it is recommended by many pest controllers and beekeepers alike when bees have been discovered in places of inconvenience.  

The subscription continues to grow and 2025 sees the implementation of a triple-tiered structure to promote both the hard work and the professionalism of the subscribers. 

‘Registered’ is for those who are really just starting out or maybe just getting underway with their training and looking for guidance.

‘Trade’ is for those who can prove and show their training records and are working towards achieving accreditation. 

‘Accredited’ is where the subscriber needs to provide strong evidence of recorded health and safety practices across the whole of their operation. 

There are already plans afoot to build on the tiered system for 2026, promoting confidence in UKBR recommendations 
of its subscribers. ukbr.org