Bee & Q

B&Q forced to close after 10,000 bees swarm in a hanging basket.

16:25 26 August 2015

B&Q was forced to close its garden centre after 10,000 bees swarmed the outdoor section before taking refuge in a hanging basket.

 

Keith Underdown, chairman of the areas BeeKeepers’ Association believes that the bees had to relocate due to the soaring temperature. He said: It's not unusual for them to swarm in August, the most likely explanation is that they got overcrowded.

 

"It's probable they made a strong colony earlier in the year and that a number of them followed the new queen."

The store in Larkfield, Kent closed its garden centre at around 9pm on Friday.

 

Nik Fowden, general manager of the store, said: "The guys did a fantastic job, we had to close our garden centre and haven't reopened for the rest of the day.

 

"We're happy to protect a protected species.

 

"The loss of custom is the least of our worries, we'll make it up over time - our customers' safety and rescuing the bees is more important to us."

 

He added: "The queen was found and the bees collected and taken to an apiary in North Kent.

 

"We do have a few remaining scouts still picking up the queen's scent but the hive itself has gone.

 

"We will be happy to offer discounts of flowers to customers affected by the disruption."