A beekeeping duo in Loughgall recently came to the rescue of Richhill residents after hundreds of bees gathered in a swarm on their garden fence.
William Haffey and Jack Wilson of Loughgall Honey received a phone call from the concerned homeowners last week when they realised that the swarm that began building around 5pm the night before wasn’t showing any signs of buzzing off!
And, the honey producers – who have a combined 45 years of beekeeping experience between them – were all too happy to lend a hand.
Speaking to Armagh I, William explained that this was a harmless “pit stop” for the bees.
He said: “This is the only way the bees can make more. It’s the way they reproduce.
“They will swarm and then leave half the bees behind in the box and they produce a new queen.”
Together, William and Jack expertly “scraped” the lost bees into a box underneath the fence and, once secured, took them to their new home with Loughgall Honey on the Derrycrew Road.
And the distance worked well as William explains that when moving bees you have to bring them at least two miles away from their swarm or they will go back to where they had been.
William says “it’s just as well they hadn’t landed in a chimney! When they are in a chimney you just can’t get them out.”
As bees are protected, William said even pest control providers will call a beekeeper to attend for their safe removal if they are found to be causing a nuisance.
But the pair are more than happy to come to the rescue of more bees in the area, if they should be needed.
“If you see a swarm of bees in your local area – the more like this the better – be sure to get in contact with us!” they said.
“We’ll be more than happy to help in any way we can.”
