Demolition work at Yeovil’s Glovers Walk shopping centre has been temporarily delayed due to the unexpected discovery of two thriving bee colonies comprising approximately 70,000 pollinators. Contractors, working under Somerset Council, found that the bees had established their hives deep within the building’s wall cavities, posing a unique challenge.
The bees chose a particularly hard-to-reach spot, prompting the demolition team to devise some creative solutions. Initially, they attempted to lure the bees to a new hive placed on the roof, but this method was unsuccessful. Ultimately, the contractors carefully created an access hole to the nests, and with the assistance of an expert beekeeper, they were able to safely capture two queen bees along with the majority of the colony.
These bees have since been relocated to a tranquil site in South Wales, ensuring their preservation. Councillor David Woan, Associate Lead Member for Business Strategy and Yeovil division member, commented on the incident: “This caused quite a buzz locally. It was a precarious job to access the bees protecting their honey. Our contractors are definitely the bees knees!”
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The demolition of Glovers Walk is part of a broader plan to revitalize the 2.2-acre site with mixed-use development aimed at economically regenerating Yeovil’s town centre.