Bumblebee Nest Removal

Humane Treatment. Fixed Price. Same-Day Service.

Bumblebee Nest Treatment

£70

Fixed Fee. No Hidden Costs.

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Bumblebees (Genus Bombus): When a Garden Visitor Becomes a Problem

Close-up of a UK bumblebee — the dense fur and stocky body used to identify a bumblebee nest in Altrincham for removal or treatment.

The UK has around 24 native bumblebee species, though only six or seven are commonly seen in gardens: the Buff-tailed, White-tailed, Red-tailed, Common Carder, Early, Garden, and Tree Bumblebee. Most are docile and can be left in place. The one exception is the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum), which colonised Britain from continental Europe in 2001, nests in bird boxes and loft cavities, and defends its entrance far more readily than native species.

Where you'll find a nest in a Altrincham home

A bumblebee at a wooden nesting cavity entrance — Tree Bumblebees (Bombus hypnorum) use bird boxes, loft voids, and roof cavities across Altrincham and Trafford.
A bumblebee at a cavity entrance — the same look as a loft or bird box colony.
Bees streaming in and out of a cavity nest — the tell-tale sign of an established bumblebee or wasp colony behind a soffit, fascia board, or wall cavity.
An active colony at its entry point — what you'll see at a loft soffit.
  • Underground burrows — abandoned mouse holes, gaps under sheds and decking. Usually Buff-tailed or Early Bumblebees.
  • Compost heaps and tussocky grass — Common Carder Bees in old rodent bedding.
  • Lofts, bird boxes, and roof voids — the classic Tree Bumblebee site.
  • Wall cavities and behind fascia boards — increasingly Tree Bumblebees as their UK population grows.
A dense cluster of workers at a nesting site — a peak-summer bumblebee colony can hold several hundred bees, which is when a nest near a doorway or HMO in Altrincham becomes a genuine safety risk.
Peak-summer colonies can hold several hundred workers — the point at which removal usually makes sense.

When a nest actually needs removing

Most bumble bees don't need treating. But if they're causing a nuisance or pose a health risk, we can treat the nest for £70. Treatment genuinely makes sense when:

  • The flight path crosses a doorway, garden path, or seating area.
  • Someone in the household has a confirmed bee or insect allergy.
  • The nest is inside a loft, bird box, or roof cavity — likely Tree Bumblebees.
  • Young children or pets can't reliably be kept clear of the entrance.
  • The property is a rental or HMO and landlord liability is a factor.
  • The entrance is blocking an air vent, flue, or chimney.

What to expect

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) foraging — the UK's most common species and the one most often found nesting underground in Altrincham gardens, typically in old rodent burrows under sheds or decking.

We cover all of Altrincham and Trafford 7 days a week, with evenings and weekends at no surcharge. Every job is a flat £70 including VAT, materials, and the return visit to seal the original cavity if that's needed.

Send a photo of the entrance and the bees — we can usually identify the species from the image alone and tell you whether treatment is straightforward or whether a site visit is needed first.

Please don't spray it yourself. Shop-bought insecticides anger the colony, cause multiple stings, and kill a vital pollinator. Call us first — advice is often free over the phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bumblebees have no specific legal protection in the UK, but they are declining pollinators and we treat them as a last resort. If your nest isn't genuinely causing a problem, we'll tell you so on the phone — for free — and suggest letting it die back naturally in autumn, which it will.

Bumblebee treatment costs more because the job is slower and more considered: species identification first, an honest assessment of whether treatment is needed at all, careful handling in full PPE, and sometimes a preliminary access check. A wasp nest is a more straightforward destruction job, so it's priced lower.

A bumblebee is big, rounded and furry, with a slow flight you can hear coming. A honeybee is smaller, slimmer and matt amber-brown. A wasp is glossy, hairless, bright yellow and black, with a pinched waist and quick, darting flight. A photo texted to us settles it in minutes if you're not sure.

Only when there's no reasonable alternative. Bumblebee colonies are short-lived — typically a matter of weeks from when you first notice them — so where the nest can safely be left, leaving it is our standing advice. We treat when someone in the household is at genuine risk or the entrance makes part of the property unusable.

The Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) is the most defensive species you'll meet in a UK garden. A relatively recent arrival — first recorded here in 2001 — it favours bird boxes, loft edges and fascia voids, exactly where people walk past daily. Native species are far more tolerant and generally sting only if the nest itself is disturbed.

Usually, yes. We're local to Altrincham and cover the whole of Trafford seven days a week, and the £70 fee doesn't change for evenings or weekends.

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