Are you allowed to keep bees on your allotment?

[sanman]

My local authority doesn't allow you to keep bees on your allotment. Does yours and what are your thoughts on this especially in light of the current threat to bees via Colony Collapse Disorder and the good that they do via polination?

[Headfry]

Hi, as you know I am going to give bees a go! we asked the chairman of our plots and he said it was fine. Sadly he has passed away since, so we will see how it goes down with new chairman!!! We are at the edge of the plots and will put hives at the very bottom of our plot. All people near us have been asked and have said its fine with them, they are quite interested!
Fingers crossed!
I think it's down to communication with other plot holders and committee's
You must remmeber that some do not like bees maybe they are affraid, or maybe they have bad reactions to the stings... they are not just trying to be difficult about your hobby! please do think of others first!

[SarzWix]

The rule on our site is "No new livestock", so the lady with chickens is allowed to keep them but no-one else can get any. Apparently bees are 'livestock' too, and as our site is right next to the primary school field, they think it 'unwise' to put the children at risk... Fair enough I suppose, but if sited properly, I don't think a hive would cause too much problem?

[Headfry]

My bee keeping lessons are held in Woodstock school grounds! they have are fair few hives. I wonder if they have problems, they have been there quite sometime so I guess not many problems. You are right SarzWix, you must consider others!

[Paulottie]

Interesting Sarah I didn't know they were classed as livestock, My contract said no livestock but think I might get away with a hive on the headland...I guess i'll try and sell it as a public pollination service to the manager!

[sanman]

Although there is nothing in the official literature out allotment officer has informed that they are not allowed; this despite the fact that a local association keeps them on one allotment site and I am aware of another allotment site also starting to keep them. Of the allotments around mine approximately 10% are in use. I had a word with my neighbour and he didn't mind. I may press this issue further as I feel there is a lack of consistency at the moment.

[Digger-07]

I used to keep bees a few years ago them had to move so gave the colonies away. Now I would like to put some on the plot but there is a "no livestock" clause. Some private associations in the area do allow bees even when the land is owned by the same council so it seems that there is no consistency.

When I had them on the plot people commented about the better polination etc. I hope this was due to the bees and not just a better season.

[Headfry]

I would try to push it!
There are a few problems with the low numbers of bees about so any extra help from people keeping bees can only be a good thing!
Does the British Bee Keeping Society have any thing on the subject?

[Headfry]

Hey Digger-07, you just gotta get some more bees!
good luck with it!
please keep us posted!

[zebedee]

I would dearly love to keep bees, but I don't know what the rules are for our plot. Will find out. To all who can and will keep bees, keep up the good and very important work!

[Digger-07]

Headfry - I keep thinking about it, I still have all the equipment and even enough national bits for about 5 strong colonies but I never seem to have the time to get around to sorting things out.

I have a few friends who let me taste the real local honey - not the stuff thats sold in the shops.

[Headfry]

All in good time Digger-07, I have my evening class tonight! cant wait....
Nationals, I have just ordered mine! so very excited! my first national!
Zebedee....good luck with finding out, my fingers are crossed for you!

[Digger-07]

Hf. Good luck with the lessons, I remember the old boy (I once lived near Burford!) who showed me how it was all done said that there were as many ways of looking after bees as there were beekeepers so you will find that there is always something to learn about them.

[sanman]

Digger

If you ever feel like getting rid of your equipment then give me a shout, I'm in the market for some bits

Cheers
Mark

[Hans Mum]

Digger, we've got them on our site & i'm only a couple of miles away from you, so LCC must allow them might be worth checking Good Luck