Bees on the Allotment!

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Bees on the Allotment!

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Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Tue Jun 17, 08 3:54 pm Post subject: Bees on the Allotment!

Great news today! Neighbouring allotment holders have been quietly asking if bees could be held on our site ( we'd not asked and have had our hive in a remote field of a friendly farmer for the past year) as they are beekeepers where they lived previously and were keen to start a hive now they lived here.

We have permission!! There is a scrubby bit of plot no good for much else which would house about 3-4 hives in comfort and without upsetting anyone. It needs a bit of screening from one side and a strim in places but otherwise is ready to go! Our bees are about 3 miles away so we can safely move them and it will make tending them that much more simple. Someone else in the village is keen to have bees and has been learning so he'll probably be joining us as well and we have the advantage of learning from an experienced keeper in our midst. The Longworth Apiary is being established!!!!

In the latest beecraft news there was a survey sheet about bees on allotments; trying to find out whether folk had permission or not. Out of curiosity whats the state of play on your site?

woodsprite

Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire

Posted: Tue Jun 17, 08 3:58 pm Post subject:
Yes we are actively encouraged to keep bees on our local organic allotments.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Tue Jun 17, 08 4:30 pm Post subject:
thats great, I wish more allotments would take this stance

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Tue Jun 17, 08 4:38 pm Post subject:
our friends took a strawpoll of other holders and found nothing but support only a thought that perhaps the parish council wouldn't be too pleased ( partly cos the chairman's house overlooks the site) Turns out she's delighted at the idea! It will make checking them so much easier as it a 5 mins walk from the house not a 10 mins drive including through a bumpy old field.

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Tue Jun 17, 08 4:46 pm Post subject:
Well done - I'm hoping that I can get some bee's on our local allotments but there is a 2 year waiting list at the moment for plots - We've plenty of garden space but it would be nice to have some extra space for growing the bulk items like potatoes, garlic, carrots, asparagus etc

LynneA

Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Posts: 4893
Location: London N21

Posted: Tue Jun 17, 08 4:51 pm Post subject:
There's an active beekeepers group on ours with about 5 hives behind the trading hut.

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Tue Jun 17, 08 4:55 pm Post subject:
Our council we used to rent off wouldn't allow them in case the hives were vandalised and the yobs then got badly stung and sued the council---you couldn't make it up

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Tue Jun 17, 08 5:50 pm Post subject:
Great news Mrs Fiddlesticks. Your own mini beekeeping society. Good to have some company for those jobs that need more than one pair of hands or you feel a bit daunted to attempt as a novice. Lottie you have my sympathies. With all the press about the plight of the honey bee now would be a good time to approach the council again.

Andy B

Joined: 12 Jan 2005
Posts: 3920
Location: Brum

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 08 11:01 am Post subject:
We were told a flat no, some people objected, apparently, but we never found out who it was. Everyone we spoke to was in favour so it was a bit confusing.

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 08 11:11 am Post subject:

Andy B wrote:

We were told a flat no, some people objected, apparently, but we never found out who it was. Everyone we spoke to was in favour so it was a bit confusing.

we weren't sure if there were going to be objections. Our main concern was if there were any, we wanted to know what they were so that we could counter them and reassure and educate as appropriate.

wizz

Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 561

Posted: Fri Jun 20, 08 9:37 am Post subject:

On our site (which only got going in march) bees are allowed for a small extra fee. According to the tenancy agreement beekeepers are required to have had "appropriate training". We've both been on a weekend course and oh went on a course over the whole year in 2006 - so although we haven't much experience hopefully we have done enough training to qualify! unfortunately the bees we had as a result of the course didn't survive the 2007 spring and we haven't restocked since then.

There apparently has been a bit of concern from some plot holders but there has been a bit of info circulated to try to allay fears. o far only one chap has sited a couple of hives there so far. we're hoping to restock the hive and set it up there next year... (want to get the allotment a bit more established first!)

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Fri Jun 20, 08 10:02 am Post subject:
Everyone's fruit crops will go through the roof - they'll all be delighted!

BelindaC

Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Posts: 464
Location: Hertfordshire

Posted: Fri Jun 20, 08 7:55 pm Post subject:

We have had a lovely development this year as a community beekeeping project has joined our large allotment site. They've so far got about 8 hives, a garden area, and are building a small hut as an 'education area' (intended i think for visits from local schools etc). It seems a great project and better still, one of the beekeepers sells his honey in various local shops. I buy it when I see it - I love the thought that the bees made it partly from our own allotment amongst others - it almost feels like we've made our own honey!

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