The right way to get rid of a bees nest depends on which bee you have. Honeybee swarms can often be collected free of charge by volunteer beekeepers. Bumblebee nests die off naturally within a few months. Established honeybee colonies in chimneys and wall cavities will not leave on their own, and these need professional ethical removal and relocation.
Whatever you do, do not reach for a spray. Consumer insecticides are not approved for use against bees, and a poisoned colony inside a wall creates far bigger problems than a live one.
This guide walks you through identifying your bee, the legal position, why DIY treatment backfires, and when the kindest option is simply to wait.
Key takeaways
- Identify the species first: the right action is different for honeybees, bumblebees and solitary bees.
- Honeybee swarms (May to July) can usually be collected free by a BBKA volunteer beekeeper.
- Bumblebee nests last 2 to 6 months and die off naturally, so they are best left alone.
- Established honeybee colonies in walls or chimneys persist for years and need professional removal, comb and all.
- DIY sprays are not approved for bees and can spread contaminated honey to healthy colonies nearby.
Is it a bees nest or a wasps nest?
Check before you do anything else, because the two are handled very differently. Bees are hairy, rounded and muted brown or amber in colour, and they are generally docile. Wasps are smooth and shiny with a narrow waist and bright yellow and black stripes, and they can sting repeatedly.
The nest itself is another giveaway. Wasp nests are papery structures made from chewed wood pulp, while honeybees build sheets of hexagonal wax comb. Wasps also become noticeably more aggressive in late summer.
If yours turns out to be wasps, that is a different job entirely, and our wasp nest removal service covers it. If they are bees, read on.
Which type of bee is nesting on your property?
The UK has far more bee species than most people realise: more than 260 species of solitary bee and around 24 bumblebee species, according to the Royal Horticultural Society. Each one calls for a different response.
A honeybee swarm hanging in a cluster
Honeybees swarm mainly between May and July. A new queen is raised, and the old queen leaves the hive with thousands of workers, often settling in a rugby-ball-shaped cluster on a branch, fence or wall while scouts look for a new home.
Swarms look dramatic but are usually temporary and not aggressive. The British Beekeepers Association runs a network of volunteer swarm collectors who will often collect a honeybee swarm free of charge and re-home it. You can find one with the postcode search on the BBKA website. They only handle honeybees, which is why correct identification matters.
An established honeybee colony in a chimney, wall or roof
This is the situation that genuinely needs intervention. Once honeybees establish a colony inside a chimney, wall cavity or roof void, they will not move on by themselves. Colonies can persist for years, and the stored honeycomb becomes a problem in its own right if the bees are killed rather than removed.
A bumblebee nest in the garden, lawn or bird box
Bumblebee nests are short-lived and harmless to buildings. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust says nests usually last between 2 and 6 months and recommends they are left alone and in place, since they cause no structural damage.
Solitary bees in mortar joints or lawns
Masonry and mining bees are harmless. Stockport Council’s guidance notes they do not sting people, do not pester anyone and do not damage buildings. Masonry bees only exploit mortar that is already soft or perished, so the long-term fix is re-pointing, not pesticide. Mining bees simply leave small volcano-like mounds of soil in lawns.
Not sure which bee you have? Send us a photo and we will identify it for you, with free, no-obligation advice.
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Are bees protected by law in the UK?
Not in the way many people believe. No single UK law grants general protection to bees, and it is not in itself illegal to destroy a nest, as the British Pest Control Association confirms. But strong conservation guidance and pesticide rules make DIY treatment legally and practically risky.
The BPCA’s position is that professionals do not apply bee treatments unless there is a serious threat to human life. The Health and Safety Executive’s Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme classes bees as beneficial invertebrates, which tells you how regulators view them.
Pesticide law is where homeowners can come unstuck. Only HSE-approved products may be used, and the UK government has restricted bee-harming neonicotinoid pesticides. Consumer insecticides are not approved for use against bees, so using one off-label can put you in breach of pesticide law. We cover the legal detail in full on our are bees protected page.
Why does spraying a bees nest yourself backfire?
DIY sprays fail because they rarely reach the whole colony, and the consequences spread well beyond your wall. Research from the University of Kentucky’s entomology department shows that because insecticide does not kill instantly, honeybees from other colonies rob the poisoned nest and carry contaminated honey home, killing healthy colonies too.
Then there is what gets left behind. A dead colony in a cavity still contains honeycomb, and without live bees fanning to keep it cool, the wax melts. Honey seeps through plasterboard and cavities, causing stains, damp and a lingering odour.
The abandoned comb also attracts wax moths, beetles, ants and rodents, turning one problem into several.
That damage matters more in context. Friends of the Earth reports 35 UK bee species are under threat of extinction, and that pollinating crops by hand would cost UK farmers an estimated 1.8 billion pounds a year. These figures concern wild bees, but every needlessly poisoned colony adds pressure.
How does ethical bee removal and relocation work?
Ethical removal takes the colony out alive wherever possible and relocates it, then removes the honeycomb so nothing is left to melt, leak or attract pests. In our experience this is the only approach that properly solves an established colony in a chimney or wall, because killing the bees still leaves the comb behind.
A professional bee nest removal typically involves:
- A survey to confirm the species, locate the colony and assess access.
- Careful opening of the chimney, cavity or roof void where needed.
- Removing the bees alive for relocation wherever practical.
- Stripping out the honeycomb and stored honey completely.
- Proofing the entry points so a new swarm cannot move into the scent-marked void next spring.
That last step matters, because old comb leaves a scent that attracts future swarms to the same cavity.
Our RSPH (BPCA) Level 2 certified and trainee technicians carry out humane bee removal and relocation nationwide, and treatment is only ever considered as a last resort where there is a serious risk to people, in line with BPCA guidance.
When should you leave a bees nest alone?
Leave the nest alone whenever it is bumblebees or solitary bees, and whenever a honeybee swarm has only just arrived. Bumblebee nests finish naturally within 2 to 6 months, solitary bees are harmless, and a fresh swarm will often move on within days or can be collected by a beekeeper.
For a bumblebee nest, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s advice is simple: the nest is finished once no bees have been seen entering or leaving for about two weeks. At that point you can safely seal the access points to stop next year’s queens choosing the same spot.
The only nests that genuinely will not resolve themselves are established honeybee colonies inside the structure of your home. If bees have been coming and going from the same gap in your brickwork, soffit or chimney for weeks, it is time to get a professional involved.
Bees in your chimney or wall? Book a free survey for humane bee removal and relocation, rated 4.8/5 on Trustpilot from more than 23,000 reviews.
We are open every day except Christmas Day, early until late. Send us a message for a fast callback, or call the number at the top of this page.
Frequently asked questions
No single UK law grants general protection to bees, so destroying a nest is not in itself illegal. However, conservation guidance is strong, professionals avoid treating bees unless life is at risk, and consumer insecticides are not approved for use against bees, which makes DIY treatment legally risky.
It depends on the species. Bumblebee nests last 2 to 6 months and die off naturally by autumn, and honeybee swarms usually move on within days. Established honeybee colonies in chimneys, walls or roof voids are different: they can persist for years and will not leave on their own.
For a hanging honeybee swarm, contact a BBKA volunteer swarm collector through the postcode search on the BBKA website, often free of charge. For an established colony inside a chimney, wall or roof, call a professional ethical bee removal company that relocates the bees and removes the comb.
Bees are hairy, rounded and muted brown or amber, and they are usually docile. Wasps are smooth and shiny with a narrow waist and bright yellow and black markings, and they sting repeatedly. Wasp nests are papery, made from chewed wood pulp, while honeybees build hexagonal wax comb.
Sprays rarely reach the whole colony, and bees from other colonies rob the poisoned nest, carrying contaminated honey home and killing healthy colonies. The dead nest’s wax then melts, honey seeps through walls, and the comb attracts wax moths, ants and rodents. No consumer spray is approved for bees.
No. Masonry and mortar bees are harmless solitary bees that do not sting people or damage sound buildings. They only exploit mortar that is already soft or perished, so the lasting fix is re-pointing the affected joints rather than any pesticide treatment. Mining bees in lawns are equally harmless.