Swarm of bees found near Lewes – in pictures

Up to 10,000 honey bees circled a tree trunk in the village on Wednesday (May 20) – attracting a crowd of onlookers. Resident Gerry Bennett said: “There was excitement in Monckton Way, Kingston, near Lewes, on May 20, which I am reliably informed by a fellow resident was World Bee Day. At approximately 4.30pm I pulled up onto my driveway and was immediately aware of an exceptionally loud buzzing sound. A quick glance across the road provided the answer – hundreds, if not thousands of bees were circling the trunk of a neighbour’s tree. I thought it wise to keep an eye on the situation, in case children or elderly members of the community were caught unaware of the potential danger. Quite quickly a small crowd gathered, social distancing of course, and the Kingston Volunteers WhatsApp group were alerted.” Gerry said beekeepers were quick to the scene in their protective equipment to catch the swarm and move them to a more suitable location. “First to the scene were Sam Rae and Louisa Adams who live in The Street,” said Gerry. “They donned their PPE within seconds, surveyed the scene, and sprang into action. Sam and Louisa estimated the swarm may contain up to 10,000 honey bees. They were efficient and effective in dealing with this incident, and the crowd appreciated the buzz and excitement of something different from the normal routine of village life in these Covid-19 times!” In addition to the flying bees, a ‘nest’ the size and shape of a rugby ball was located on a branch of the same tree, Gerry said.