Ethical Bee Removal & RelocationBees: Species, Risks & Ethical Bee Removal
Professional bee removal across South & West Yorkshire, with local pages for Sheffield and Leeds.
Bees you don’t want killed? Apex relocates honey bee swarms wherever safely possible.
Specialist live colony removal & relocation · One of only two in South Yorkshire · BPCA certified · Free survey
At a Glance
- Service
- Bee Removal & Relocation
- Provider
- Apex Pest Control Ltd
- Locations
- Sheffield, Leeds, Rotherham & Barnsley
- Specialism
- Live colony removal from cavity walls & roofs
- Survey
- Free · 7 days a week
- Credentials
- BPCA certified · £5M insured
Specialist Bee Removal & Relocation
Apex Pest Control Ltd is one of only two pest control companies in South Yorkshire that offers live bee removal and relocation. It is a specialist job — often removing an established honey bee colony from inside a cavity wall or roof space and relocating it alive — and Apex Pest Control Ltd carries it out humanely across South and West Yorkshire, helping you keep the bees rather than kill them. Bees are vital pollinators, so Apex Pest Control Ltd does not exterminate them as a first option; the team identifies the species and finds the kindest, most practical solution, from a simple swarm collection to a full colony removal.
If they are honey bees (Apis mellifera), Apex Pest Control Ltd refers the swarm or colony to a local beekeeper for relocation through the British Beekeepers Association swarm network, which is usually free of charge. Yorkshire has active beekeeping associations in York, Leeds, Sheffield and Wharfedale.
If they are bumblebees, the team will usually advise leaving the nest in place — bumblebees are protected, gentle, and the nest naturally dies off by the end of summer. Apex Pest Control Ltd follows the BPCA Code of Practice for Honey Bees, under which insecticide is an absolute last resort.
Bee Profile
Is It Honey Bees, Bumblebees or Solitary Bees?
Apex Pest Control Ltd is called out to all three across South and West Yorkshire. The right action depends on the species — and where honey bees have built deep inside a wall or roof, removing and relocating the colony alive is a specialist job. Beekeepers often cannot reach a colony in a chimney, cavity wall or at height, and councils rarely deal with bees — so Apex handles those awkward access jobs and rehomes the colony wherever it can.
Honey bees (Apis mellifera)
A large colony — often a swarm in May or June, or an established nest in a chimney, wall cavity, roof space or attic. Relocated by a beekeeper.
Bumblebees (Bombus)
A small nest in a bird box, compost heap, shed, wall cavity or under decking. Protected, gentle, and best left to die off naturally by autumn.
Solitary & masonry bees
Single bees nesting in soft mortar, brickwork or the ground — non-aggressive and harmless. Left in place with advice.
Tree bumblebees
A non-native bumblebee nesting in bird boxes and roof soffits. Lots of busy foragers look alarming but are gentle — usually left.
In a wall, chimney or roof
Honey bees often establish deep in the structure and can tunnel through soft mortar. These need a specialist beekeeper to relocate safely.
A swarm on a branch or post
A honey bee swarm clusters in the open for a day or two before moving on. Calm, temporary, and ideal for a beekeeper to collect.
Are Bees Protected — Should You Remove Them at All?
Apex Pest Control Ltd will always give you the honest answer, even when that answer is “leave them alone”. Bees are vital pollinators and their numbers are in decline, so protecting them matters.
Bumblebees are protected
Bumblebees should not be destroyed. Their nests live for a single season and die off naturally by autumn, so they are almost always best left in peace.
Honey bees are relocated, not killed
Under BPCA guidance, honey bees are not killed but referred to a local beekeeper for relocation. Bee health in England is overseen by the National Bee Unit.
Often, the best option is to wait
In many cases the cheapest and kindest course of action is simply to do nothing — and Apex Pest Control Ltd will tell you so honestly.
Find a swarm collector yourself
You can also find a local swarm collector through the BBKA swarm map — Apex Pest Control Ltd is happy to point you there.
How Apex Pest Control Removes & Relocates Bees
Apex Pest Control Ltd carries out live bee colony removal and relocation as a specialist service, from locating the colony to reinstating your wall or roof — all by a BPCA-certified technician.
Survey & locate the colony
The technician confirms the species and pinpoints exactly where the colony is nesting — often deep inside a cavity wall, chimney or roof space — and explains your options honestly.
Access the nest
Where the bees are inside the structure, Apex Pest Control Ltd carefully opens the cavity wall or enters the roof space to reach the colony and its comb.
Remove & relocate alive
The bees, brood and comb are removed by hand, the queen is secured, and the whole colony is relocated to a hive so it lives on — never destroyed.
Make good & proof
Apex Pest Control Ltd reinstates the wall or roof and proofs the entry point so bees cannot re-occupy the same spot. Treatment is only ever an absolute last resort where there is a genuine risk to health.
A simple open swarm on a branch is different — it can often be collected free by a beekeeper, and Apex Pest Control Ltd will tell you honestly when that, or simply leaving the bees, is the better option. A specialist colony removal from a wall or roof is quoted clearly before any work begins.
See the Work: Real Bee Colony Removals
Live honey bee colonies removed from cavity walls and roof spaces across South and West Yorkshire by Apex Pest Control Ltd — and relocated alive to a beekeeper, not destroyed.
What Our Customers Say
"Great service, very professional and knowledgeable. After an inspection he removed our very large wasps’ nest. I highly recommend Apex — 10/10."
"Excellent service, very professional and friendly. Tom managed to fit me in the day before Christmas Eve and I really appreciated that. Highly recommend."
"A gem of a company — we have used them for around five years. Tony never overplays the treatment needed and gives very considered, knowledgeable advice."
Rated 4.9/5 from 110+ reviews across our Google (Sheffield & Barnsley) and Trustpilot profiles.
Honest Pricing
How Much Does Bee Removal Cost?
A free survey first — because the right answer, and the cost, depend on the species and where they are nesting.
Survey
Free
open swarm collection may be free via a beekeeper · specialist colony removal quoted after survey · no call-out fee
- Free survey and honest species identification
- Specialist live colony removal from cavity walls & roof spaces
- We tell you honestly when no paid work is needed
- Colony removed and relocated alive, then the structure made good
There is no call-out fee, and Apex Pest Control Ltd will always tell you honestly when the kindest option is to leave the bees in peace.
Why Choose Apex for Bee Removal?
Apex Pest Control Ltd is a BPCA-certified, family-run Yorkshire business that puts pollinators first. Founder Tony Johnson has 40 years' experience in pest control, forestry and wildlife management.
BPCA Certified
Apex Pest Control Ltd holds current BPCA certification and follows the BPCA Code of Practice for Honey Bees.
One of Only Two in South Yorkshire
Apex Pest Control Ltd is one of only two pest control companies in South Yorkshire that offers live bee removal and relocation — a genuine specialism, not a referral.
Honest Advice
Apex Pest Control Ltd will tell you the truth — even when that means leaving the bees exactly where they are.
Specialist Cut-Out & Relocation
Apex Pest Control Ltd removes established colonies from cavity walls and roof spaces, relocates them alive, and makes the structure good — work most companies cannot do.
Free Survey, No Call-Out Fee
A free survey and honest identification, with any specialist work quoted clearly before it begins.
Available 7 Days a Week
Monday to Friday 08:00–19:00 and Saturday to Sunday 08:00–13:00 — bees swarm at the weekend too.
Where Do We Help With Bees?
Apex Pest Control Ltd helps with bees humanely across South and West Yorkshire from four local offices. Choose your nearest area below for local availability, response times and area-specific advice.
Bees in a Listed Building, Business or School?
Apex Pest Control Ltd advises homeowners, businesses, schools and owners of listed buildings across South and West Yorkshire on the humane, lawful way to deal with a bee colony — including where structural access is restricted.
Pest Intelligence
About Bees — Facts & Identification
A little bee biology explains why relocation and patience usually beat any kind of treatment.
Bee Removal — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions we hear most often. If yours is not listed, call us on 0114 349 1098.
Got Bees? Let’s Do the Right Thing
Bees in your home or garden? Apex Pest Control Ltd will identify them and help you deal with them humanely across South and West Yorkshire — usually by relocation, often by simply leaving them in peace. Free survey, no call-out fee, 7 days a week.