swarmline.uk
Report a swarm. Help save bees.
Free honeybee swarm reporting · UK

A simple way to get a honeybee swarm safely collected.

Every summer, honeybee colonies split and swarm — thousands of bees cluster on a branch, a fence or a wall while they look for a new home. It looks alarming, but a settled swarm is usually calm, and a local beekeeper will happily come and rehome them, free of charge.

SwarmLine connects the person who found the swarm with a beekeeper who can collect it. You send a photo, we work out what kind of bees they are, and if it's a honeybee swarm we find the nearest available collector and put you in touch. No phone trees, no guessing who to call.

1
Send a photoWe identify the bees from your picture — honeybees, bumblebees, or wasps — so you know what you're actually dealing with. We'll never tell you something dangerous is safe to ignore.
2
We find a collectorFor a honeybee swarm, we contact the nearest registered beekeeper. If they can't come, we try the next, and the next — so you're not left waiting on one person.
3
They get in touchOnce a beekeeper accepts, they receive your contact details and arrange a time to come and collect. Your details are shared with that one beekeeper only, and deleted afterwards.

Why it's free

Beekeepers want swarms — a collected swarm becomes a new colony in their care. So collection costs you nothing, the bees are saved rather than exterminated, and a local beekeeper gains a hive. SwarmLine simply makes the connection.

See how it works

The whole thing, start to finish

A reporter sends a photo; a beekeeper gets the call. Pick a scenario and watch it play out.

Reportermember of the public
Beekeeperregistered collector
Beekeeper 2next nearest collector

In the final throes of beta

We're right in the middle of swarm season and SwarmLine is in the final stages of beta testing. The demo above shows how it'll work — one photo over WhatsApp, and a local beekeeper on the way. Built on cropspray.farm technology.

Are you with the BBKA or a local association, or a beekeeper who'd like to be involved? We'd love to hear from you — hello@swarmline.uk.

SwarmLine is a free, neutral swarm-collection service, currently in beta. Built on cropspray.farm technology. Data controller: Culshaw Consulting Ltd. · Privacy