Bee Hive
We have now had a few people ask whether or not we are permitted to keep bees on our allotments. I have asked the question of Farnham Town Council.
The Town Council’s current policy is to not permit the keeping of bees on allotments, however I have been told that they will be reviewing this. If bee-keeping was allowed the keeper would have to have a plot in the corner of the allotment site and would need a 6ft fence around the hives so the bees came into the hives from a height rather than lower down.
If anyone is interested in keeping bees on their allotment then please contact us and we will raise this at the next site representatives meeting. The more interest, the more chance there is of policy change and we all know bees could use a helping-hand at the moment.
You can read more about keeping bees on the British Beekeeper’s Association website and the Surrey Beekeepers website.
Filed under: Beekeeping, Comment from the Sites Tagged: | bee-keeping allotments
a solid fence would be rather expensive, but a fine net would be more wind proof and would still cause the bees to fly over it. I would certainly be interested in keeping bees. Maybe we could club together and have a shared bee plot in a corner with a bunch of hives on it.
I have a bee hive which I would love to locate on S&F. Currently empty and I can move it. It would be good for us all to have the bees and there is spare ground on which it can be situated.
when is the next site representatives meeting?
It’ll be in September Alan, they are twice yearly and typically in mid-September and early January. If you have any points to raise either contact us here or speak to your site rep.
My son Jake Howson of JDHPest Control is currently getting regular honey bee swarms which he is relocating to local beekeepers. We have a corner plot and would very much like to keep bees and he could possibly supply people with honey bee swarms as and when required.
I don’t think there’s been a decision yet re. beekeeping on the Farnham Allotments. The next meeting is in September and Im assuming it will be discussed then.
Re Bee Keeping
Keeping Bees: Just to be added to the list. I discussed keeping bees with Kevin about six months ago and he suggested that he was happy to do a risk re consider thaier previous risk assessment.
I have also spoken to Farnham Bee Keeping Society who are also very positive about the idea and can help people become trained to handel them before you get your own hive.
I think the council should require that individuals are competent in bee handling before they grant any permissions.
kind regards
David
West Street Ext 5B
The issue of bee keeping was discussed today at the allotment representatives’ meeting. We should do everything we can to encourage FTC to, at least, undertake a pilot at one site. Bee numbers are under severe pressure and we should, as growers and beneficiaries of bee pollination, support efforts to halt and, hopefully, reverse their decline. Without them we will all be the poorer and potentially, hungrier!
Fantastic news! There is a lovely grassy area in the north east corner of the Farnborough Road site which would be just perfect for a few hives with room for a fence to encourage the bees to come and go at height.
I think David’s point about competence is important, there are training courses available, maybe we could arrange for the interested beekeepers to go on one together.
Definately good news. We also have an area at the side at Shephard and Flock. I do agree that anyone wanting to keep bees should do a course – you need basics on how to look after them and also about problems they have. It would be lovely to have them on the site.
Hi Jo – we have permission now to move forwards with beekeeping on the site, please see the email I’ve just sent you and hopefully we can move this forwards. The Town Council is going to try a couple of “test sites” and if successful will look to roll it out on other sites – if someone there is able to be the on-site “expert”.
I am starting a course on beekeeping next week through my work, so would be happy to help out on the Shepherd and Flock allotments if needed.
Well I am happy to get involved, whatever site they can go on.
The plan is to roll this out on 2 test sites (tbc).
The site will need someone to be responsible for the bees. They will need to have received training and will need to be members of the British Beekeeping Society in order to have the correct public liability insurance.
The TC is now moving forwards with this so more news very soon.
I am a Parish Cllr. We have come up against a request from an allotment holder to keep bees.
I am interested in how the trial is going and any issues that you have encountered along the way.
I am not apposed to the idea and can see the clear benefit to all. However there is concern from other Cllr`s.
Hi David
The scheme was left with the town council and surprisingly I think nothing happened
I will raise it again at our next meeting but I think that the plot holders will simply have to take it into their own hands and organise otherwise nothing will get done.
To give everyone a quick update…
We now have permission to have bees on the Shepherd and Flock site as a trial. Kevin Tait has been great in organising our first hive with a local bee keeper. The plan is to move the hive and then the bees on to the site over the next 6 weeks or so. I will try to take some pictures and post some updates on how we get on. If this is successful then we can then add hives across other allotment sites.
David
Hello, I hope to pop into the talk tomorrow but I thought I would drop you a reply to let you know how interested I am in photographing the sites around here, I am a photographer producing a study on the allotment community. It would be great to meet you all tomorrow. I was wondering if you would give me a call on 07543101978 to discuss the talk with Barry.
thankyou. Ollie.
Thanks Ollie. If you wish to photo the sites you will need to speak to Kevin Tait at the Town Council for permission. Kevin’s details can be found on http://farnhamallotments.co.uk/contacts/.
Thanks, I met up with Kevin at Barry’s talk. It was very interesting! I hope to visit the sites over the next few weeks so if anyone is particularly interested in being photographed or helping out please let them know that I appreciate all the help I can get with this project. Im not shy about mucking in either!
Thanks Ollie. Let me know when you will be visiting the Shepherd and Flock. We will be moving a beehive onto the site at 10am ish on Saturday if you want to shoot that?
That would be great! did Im is it or is is next saturday? Thanks for letting me know! my number is 07543101978 if you have anything else, or just want me to come and muck in!