PPC120 | OPINION

Pollinator protection legislation, tightening planning controls around listed buildings and a public obsession with all things eco-friendly have made feral honey bee jobs some of the most sensitive call-outs in the modern pest controller’s diary.

As part of BPCA’s online debate series, four specialists came together on 7 May 2025 to unpick the practical, legal and ethical knots of bee work – from the first panicked phone call to the last drop of comb honey dripping behind a chimney breast.

NG Niall Gallagher 
BPCA (host)

CS Clive Stewart  
Westart Apiaries

ST Sam Thorpe  
Predator Pest Solutions

DD Diane Drinkwater  
British Beekeepers Association (BBKA)

Balancing public health and pollinator protection

NG How do we square client safety with saving bees?

CS Education first. Most callers simply don’t understand what they’re seeing. Calm the situation, explain the insect’s behaviour and nine times out of ten, the panic subsides and we can discuss options rationally.

DD Our BBKA swarm-line operators have the same problem: every flying insect is “a bee or a wasp”. We insist on a photograph to confirm the species. Often it turns out to be three bumble bees, not a 30,000-strong honey colony. Reassurance (not insecticide) is usually the answer.

ST Being able to say, “actually, these pollinators can stay”, demonstrates professional green credentials and builds long-term trust. Turning down an unnecessary treatment today often wins a bigger maintenance contract tomorrow.

NG It’s pest management, not pest control. Exactly.

Swarm calls, triage and public education

DD The secret is a robust triage script. First: honey, bumble or solitary? Second: is the swarm accessible? Third: does it genuinely need moving? We remind householders that most bumble nests are tiny and finish naturally by September.

ST A reliable ID network is gold dust. If I’m unsure, I ping a photo to Diane or Clive rather than guess. The public’s confused; we can’t be.

CS One leisure complex had a hive three storeys up. We put up an information board and left the bees. Diners loved it. Free wildlife show, zero risk, zero chemicals.

Bee colonies in buildings – listed headaches

NG Listed façades add a layer of red tape. Any tips?

DD Phone a conservation specialist before you lift a finger. We steer BBKA members away from structural jobs entirely. The insurance won’t cover cutting into fabric.

CS Lines of communication are everything. Talk to conservation officers early, record the health and safety rationale for removal, and obtain a written agreement. Remember: public-health risk can trump listed status, but you must evidence it.

ST Know your limits. We’re H&S-accredited and still bring in scaffolders or another BPCA firm for Grade II jobs. One mistake can bankrupt a business.

Training, insurance and the quarantine question

NG What’s the first step for a technician who wants to offer swarm work?

DD Join your local beekeeping association. Shadow an experienced collector. Crucially, learn to wait until dusk before lifting the box; otherwise, half the field force is still out foraging, and you’ll get a “second swarm” call the next day.

CS Pest controllers must check their own insurance policies. Standard cover often excludes livestock removal. BBKA insurance is public liability for volunteer beekeepers – it’s void the moment you charge.

ST We pair every new bee tech with a mentor and insist on Cat B asbestos awareness. Bee logic and human logic diverge quickly; a mentor saves painful lessons.

DD And quarantine. Every swarm, cut-out or free-flying, goes into an isolation apiary for disease checks. With tropilaelaps edging west, we can’t take risks.

Hidden hazards: asbestos, heights and honey seepage

ST Every invasive job starts with a structural survey. Bee flights can be 10 m from entrance to brood. You may drill through three ceilings to reach them. If there’s any doubt about asbestos, we stop and test. Clients understand; reputational damage from an exposure incident is far worse than a delayed removal.

CS Cat B training is the minimum. If you aren’t certified, step back and contract someone who is. The same applies to working at height. Hire a cherry picker, not a bigger ladder.

NG And remember the aftermath: kill a mature colony with insecticide and you inherit fermented honey, wax moth, carpet damage and the world’s stickiest insurance claim.

Can every feral colony be moved? And should it?

DD If it’s simply clustering on a branch, yes - textbook swarm collection. Inside masonry is different: beekeepers shouldn’t touch fabric, and BBKA cover forbids power tools.

CS In theory, any honey-bee colony can be removed: cut-out, trap-out or trunk-and-transport. The question is cost-benefit. 

ST We refuse chemical knock-downs. They rarely work, violate the spirit of pollinator stewardship, and usually result in a second call-out when the entrance powder fails.

NG As a sector, we need to normalise that stance: no to pesticides, yes to professional removal or toleration.

Costs, complaints and customer persuasion

ST Some clients flinch at a four-figure quote. I frame it as an investment: relocate the colony, turn the story into positive PR and avoid dripping honey repairs. Most boards sign off once they see that calculation.

CS There are ways to trim the bill - client arranges scaffold, builder opens and reseals voids, etc. But never undersell the bee work itself. It’s a specialist trade.

DD Also sell the risk: untreated colonies can throw cast swarms all summer, spreading European foulbrood or varroa bombs across the postcode.

Final take-aways

DD Forge relationships. If you won’t keep the bees yourself, line up a trustworthy beekeeper with a quarantine apiary before the season starts.

ST Build a framework. BBKA for entomology, UKBR for removal methods, and BPCA for safety and legislation. Add a mentor and you’ll learn twice as fast.

CS Education, education, education. The more you can explain species, disease, and legislation, the less resistance you’ll meet.

NG And if you’re serious about driving standards, it's worth joining BPCA’s BeeWise special interest group. We work together to ensure bee management remains a professional, pollinator-friendly service.

JOIN OUR NEXT DEBATE
Our series of online debates is ongoing, plus we'll be holding some special in-person debates at PestEx 2026! bpca.org.uk/events

Source: PPC120