South Lakes Honey Company remove bees from roof in Barrow

Ulverston-based South Lakes Honey Company received a call from a homeowner in Barrow who was refused help by pest control organisations.

Joe Lydon, who owns the business, decided to take on this ‘rare but crucial job’ as the homeowner was planning to install a new roof, making it essential to remove the bees before work could begin.

He said: “Typically I avoid jobs that might risk property damage but this situation was different. I doubt the roofers would appreciate dealing with bees while stripping and fitting the new roof.”

When Joe arrived at the property, he learned that the first colony of bees had swarmed and settled into two separate nests within the same roof.

Joe said he was pleasantly surprised to find the bees gentle and well-tempered.

Joe began the extraction by working to remove the most active colony first, carefully cutting into a section of the roof.

This uncovered a large number of bees and fresh, new wax which was carefully extracted. Next, he scooped out the bees and quickly spotted the queen.

Once the queen was secured and put inside a transport box, the bees started marching directly into the container, allowing Joe to move on to the second nest.

Although it seemed less active, the second colony was a ‘bit trickier’ to address as honey turned a simple extraction into a ‘sticky situation’.

Judging by the size and development of the second nest, Joe identified it as the site of the original colony, before the bees swarmed.

Joe carefully extracted the honey, removing around 14 kilograms in total, before removing a brood of eggs and larvae.

The bees were transferred into wooden frames then placed into a transport box and are now in quarantine before joining Joe’s apiary.

Joe said he was satisfied with the removal and with being able to help a lady who appeared to have no alternative course of action.

He said: “I’m currently reacting to many calls regarding bees stuck within chimneys and roofs.”