A FARNHAM beekeeper has appealed for the public not to call out pest controllers or use insecticides themselves as the first resort if a swarm of bees settles on their property.

David Fourt, who has been collecting swarms locally for more than 50 years, made his plea after being called out last Thursday to a swarmed colony, only to find 75 per cent of the bees had already been poisoned.

For full story, see this week's Farnham Herald.