Introduction: Rediscovering Britain’s Wild Honey Bees
Once believed to be nearly extinct in the wild, Britain’s honey bees are making a quiet comeback. New research funded by the C B Dennis British Beekeepers’ Research Trust has revealed that wild colonies of Apis mellifera are not only surviving – but thriving – in pockets of the English countryside.
The groundbreaking PhD work by Oliver Visick, under the supervision of Professor Francis Ratnieks at the University of Sussex, offers a rare window into the secret lives of wild honey bees and what they mean for the future of pollinator conservation.
A Surprising Discovery: More Wild Bees Than Expected
Visick’s global review of 40 studies found that wild-living honey bees are far more common than previously assumed. In fact, there may be two to three times more wild colonies than managed hives worldwide.
However, Europe – particularly northern regions – hosts far fewer wild colonies than warmer parts of the world. Despite this, Visick’s surveys in southeast England revealed that wild colonies can sustain themselves without relying on swarms from managed hives, challenging a long-standing assumption in bee ecology.
The Secret Life of Wild Colonies on British Estates
Between 2021 and 2024, Visick monitored 63 honey bee nest sites across six landed estates in southeast England. Most colonies nested in tree cavities, particularly in veteran oaks and chestnuts, at densities averaging 2.5 colonies per km² – a figure far higher than the European average.
Annual survival rates of around 41% suggest these colonies are self-sustaining. Rather than transient swarms, they represent robust, long-term populations shaped by natural selection.
Veteran Trees: Crucial Havens for Wild Bees
Through detailed surveys of over 1,000 ancient and veteran trees, Visick found that approximately 2% of all veteran trees – and 4.4% of those with cavities – host wild honey bee colonies. This translates to an estimated 40,000 wild colonies across England.
Large, old trees – especially sweet chestnuts – offer ideal nesting conditions. Protecting these trees, and managing younger ones to accelerate cavity formation, could be a cornerstone of future wild bee conservation.
Cutting-Edge Tools: From Waggle Dances to 3D Scanners
The research also introduced innovative methods to study wild colonies.
- Waggle dance decoding helped estimate the availability of nest sites across farmland, woodland, and urban areas, revealing that nest sites are not currently limiting wild bee populations in England.
- A non-destructive 3D scanning technique was developed to measure tree cavity volumes – accurately and affordably – helping ecologists assess habitat suitability without damaging trees.
Why This Matters
Visick’s findings redefine how we think about honey bee ecology in Britain. Wild colonies are not merely spillovers from managed hives – they’re resilient, naturally selected populations that may hold valuable genetic diversity for beekeeping and conservation alike.
Conserving wild honey bees means protecting veteran trees, wood pastures, and parklands, and valuing the landscapes where nature still shapes these remarkable insects.
A Bright Future for British Bee Research
As Professor Ratnieks noted, this PhD “created important new research on wild-living honey bee colonies, developed new methods, and generated results that may surprise people.”
Supported by the C B Dennis British Beekeepers’ Research Trust, this work not only advances science but also strengthens the bridge between researchers and beekeepers.
Britain’s wild honey bees are a testament to resilience – and a reminder that sometimes, nature thrives best when left a little wild.