Sep 11, 2024, 12:50 PM
Sep 11, 2024, 12:50 PM

Bees land unexpectedly at Edinburgh Airport car park

Provocative
Highlights
  • A swarm of bees landed on a grit bin in a car park at Edinburgh Airport in early September.
  • Beekeeper Stephen Readman was called to safely relocate the bees, which will be monitored for disease before being moved to his apiaries.
  • The airport management humorously referred to the incident as an 'unauthorised landing' and ensured the bees were handled professionally.
Story

A swarm of bees unexpectedly settled on a grit bin in a car park at Edinburgh Airport in early September. This incident prompted property managers to seek professional assistance for the safe relocation of the bees. Beekeeper Stephen Readman, who is also the president of the Edinburgh and Midlothian Beekeepers’ Association, was called to capture the swarm and transport them to a more suitable environment. The bees will be monitored for several weeks to ensure they are free from disease before being transferred to Readman’s apiaries located near Blackford, Perth and Kinross. The airport's management humorously referred to the situation as an “unauthorised landing,” highlighting the unusual nature of the event, especially since swarming typically occurs in late spring and summer. Swarming is a natural process where a queen bee leaves her colony with a group of worker bees to establish a new colony. This behavior usually leaves behind enough young bees and resources to sustain the original colony. The airport spokesperson noted the importance of handling the situation with care, given the high volume of daily visitors to the airport. The swift action taken by the airport teams ensured the bees were collected professionally, minimizing any potential disruption. The airport expressed gratitude to Readman for his expertise and looks forward to updates on the bees' progress in their new home.

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