A beekeeper has come to the aid of a row of shops that were closed because of a swarm of bees and was rewarded with a free coffee from Greggs. Simon Emms, from Priorslee Honey in Telford, said he got the call from another shop on Market Street, in Oakengates, on Saturday. He said it appeared the bees had left a nest and were attempting to set up a new colony, but once he had captured the queen they all peacefully followed her into a box. Mr Emms is on a list of swarm collectors set up by the British Beekeepers Association and said once the street was clear someone from Greggs came out to offer him the drink as a thank you. The staff member told him they had enjoyed their 20-minute break, he said, but were grateful the bees had gone. "It was mostly about keeping people safe," he said, adding that no-one had been stung. Jobs like this are not unusual, but Mr Emms said it was rare to find bees swarming near shops, rather up a tree or in someone's garden. He said swarming typically occurred when a surplus queen bee leaves a hive with part of the colony to set up a new one somewhere else. The beekeeper, who sells his own honey from nearby Priorslee, said when bees did this they had "nothing to defend so tend not to be too aggressive". Follow BBC Shropshire onBBC Sounds,Facebook,XandInstagram.
Bee swarm shuts Greggs and other shops
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"Beekeeper Resolves Bee Swarm Issue at Oakengates Shops"
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TruthLens AI Summary
A swarm of bees led to the temporary closure of several shops on Market Street in Oakengates, prompting a quick response from local beekeeper Simon Emms. Emms, who operates Priorslee Honey in Telford, received a call regarding the swarm on a Saturday. Upon arrival, he discovered that the bees had abandoned their nest and were in the process of trying to establish a new colony. With skill and experience, he managed to capture the queen bee, which encouraged the rest of the swarm to follow her into a collection box. His swift action ensured that the safety of the public was maintained, and he reported that no one had been stung during the incident. After the bees were safely removed, a staff member from Greggs, one of the shops affected, came out to express gratitude and offered Emms a complimentary coffee for his assistance, indicating that they had enjoyed a brief respite during the situation.
Emms, who is part of a swarm collection initiative organized by the British Beekeepers Association, noted that while responding to swarms is a common part of his job, it is quite unusual to find them near commercial establishments as opposed to more typical locations like trees or private gardens. He explained that swarming is a natural behavior of bees, occurring when a surplus queen leaves a hive accompanied by a portion of the colony to create a new hive elsewhere. During this phase, the bees are generally not aggressive, as they have no hive to defend. Emms also mentioned that he sells his own honey from his Priorslee location, which adds a personal touch to his involvement with the local community and his passion for beekeeping. His intervention not only helped clear the street for businesses to reopen but also highlighted the role of beekeepers in managing such situations safely and effectively.
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