Help find the South West’s hidden free-living honey bee colonies

B4 is supporting a University of Plymouth research project that is asking people across Devon and Cornwall to help record free-living honey bee colonies living in old trees, walls, buildings, roof spaces and other natural or man-made cavities.

Free-living honey bee colonies are unmanaged colonies that have chosen their own nest site. They can sometimes be found in veteran trees, old walls, outbuildings, rooflines or other sheltered spaces where bees have established themselves naturally.

The project aims to build a clearer picture of where these colonies are living in the South West, and every sighting could be valuable.

If you are out walking, gardening, working on land, visiting nature reserves, checking old buildings, or simply notice regular honey bee activity around a tree, wall, roofline or outbuilding, your observation may help the research team.

What to look for

You do not need to be a beekeeper to take part.

The team is interested in regular honey bee activity around a fixed nest site, such as:

• Bees repeatedly flying in and out of a hole in an old tree

• Activity around a wall, stonework or cavity

• Bees entering a roof space, barn, shed or outbuilding

• A colony established in another natural or man-made cavity

Please only observe from a safe distance and do not disturb the bees.

How to report a sighting

If you find a possible free-living honey bee colony:

1. Take a photo of the nest site from a safe distance

2. Note the location, date and any useful details

3. Report the sighting to the project

You can find out more or report a sighting here:

www.freebeesouthwest.co.uk

Or contact:

oliver.visick@plymouth.ac.uk

Please share this appeal

Every sighting helps build a better understanding of free-living honey bee colonies in the South West.

B4 is pleased to support the University of Plymouth with this important research and would encourage people across the region to keep an eye out for possible colony sites.

Please share this appeal with local wildlife, gardening, conservation, walking, farming, beekeeping and community groups who may be able to help.

Together, we can help researchers learn more about these hidden colonies and their place in the South West landscape.