Bees in Bovington create large hive beneath garden decking.

An experienced beekeeper has described a hive discovered under a Bovington family's garden decking as one of the largest he has encountered. Rachel Tapping, her partner Paul, and their daughter moved to their Dorset home in spring 2025, expecting a few bees but instead found around 80,000. The hive, hidden beneath the decking, caused minimal disruption.

Initially, Rachel believed the bees were merely passing through, but over 15 months, the situation evolved into a remarkable experience, culminating in a significant bee extraction. She shared with Swanage.News that she was thrilled to see the bees and felt honored to be their keeper, expecting them to leave or die off in winter, but they remained through spring.