Islanders warned of increase in bee swarms in Jersey

Bob Hogge said if islanders see a bee swarm they should contact their parish hall or the police station

Islanders are being warned about an increased number of bee swarms in Jersey, according to the island's Bee Keepers Association.

The association's president Bob Hogge said the increase was due to the combination of wet weather last year and dry weather this month.

He said it was important bee swarms were dealt with by bee keepers or pest controllers.

Mr Hogge: "The advice is, if you see a swarm, watch it from a safe distance."

He said: "A swarm of bees can be a very alarming sight and while the bees are not likely to be aggressive they are somewhat hyped up and can fly in through open windows.

"If it has settled it will calm down and if you can contact your parish hall or the police station, they have a list of bee keepers for you to contact who will be happy to deal with the swarm."

He said responsible beekeepers try to keep swarming to a minimum but it was "frequently unavoidable".

Meanwhile Jersey primary school children have been planting seeds and watering flowers to help protect bee population numbers.

It is part of an initiative run by local bee keepers and the Channel Islands Cooperative Society to educate people about the importance of the insect.

Plan Bee began in 2009 after Jersey bees were struck down with the American Foulbrood disease which caused the loss of one third of the island's bee population.