Wednesday 30 May 2012

Phew, it's swarm out


IT was the day a Hampshire town was invaded – by a massive swarm of 20,000 bees.
Stunned onlookers described how the air turned black over parts of Romsey when the honeybees flew around residential areas on the lookout for a new home.
Even the police were called as the giant swarm moved south where some settled on homes and the corner of a garage in Anderson Road.
Resident Ian Little, of Footner Close, first spotted them as he drove into his road.
He said: “The air was literally black and it wasn't until I came to a stop that I realised what it was.”
Shocked Mr Little got out of the car and heard an “intense buzz and the slamming of windows”.
Volunteer beekeeper Peter Grimes was called out to deal with the bees, estimated to be between 15,000 and 20,000 in number.
He said they could have come from a hollow tree in woodland, outbuildings or someone’s chimney.
Mr Grimes, a member of the Romsey and District Beekeepers Association, was contacted by police to remove them and he used a protective veil over his face and gloves to move many into a temporary swarm box on the roof. He was watched at a distance by local residents.


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