Allotment beekeeping

[drex]

I have kept my bees on my council plot for about 5 years. I researched it carefully and finally got permission from council. My tutor, who generally is against bees on allotments, visited the site once, and said he totally approved. Others on the site have been more than happy.

We now have a new town clerk, who has issued an edict that all bees and chickens have to go. I appealed but was turned down.

My plot is very unusual in that half is covered in mature native trees, hence unsuitable for cultivation, but it made no difference.

I had asked the council for a site plan. Their map showed that I kept the bees on a piece of land contiguous with the site, but on the far side of the boundary line. I have now slung a rope along the boundary line, with a "no unauthorised access" sign on it. Have written to the council and they seem to be quietly accepting, but I still expect troubles.
Any more I can do? This is a good site and I do not want to move.

 

[Russel]

This any help? and get your Councillors off their backsides

 

[isc26]

Try having a look at the doc in this link http://www.newcastleallotments.co.uk/BeeGroup/NABG governance final.pdf

We created it in 2011 in Newcastle Upon Tyne to set a baseline for keeping bees on allotments. It features in the book Urban Bees and is recognised by some SBI's & RBI's as some of the best specific guidance available. With a little local adaptation you could use to reassure the officials in question.

 

[Dishmop]

Any more I can do? This is a good site and I do not want to move.

Contact local newspaper and TV and radio stations..

Throw in a bit about "everywhere we are told that bees are in trouble but after 5 years a new council man says mine have to go"

If interested they will want to contact the council to confirm what you say..

 

[Mint Bee]

Others used to have chickens on local council allotments. I found this on allotmentssouthwest.org

'The two exceptions, at least for council run sites are rabbits and hens. The 1952 Allotments Act states that plot holders have a right to keep hens and rabbits on council owned allotment sites; and also have a right to put up or maintain any buildings reasonably necessary for that. Any terms in your lease or tenancy agreement, and into any covenant, forbidding the keeping of rabbits or hens on council owned site is void and cannot be enforced by law. You must of course abide by all other laws such as health and safety and animal welfare. Councils do sometimes think that they have the right to tell plot holders what to do just because they are the council. This is not so as the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts regulations (1999) apply. These make any purely arbitrary, unfair council rules unenforceable. This is reinforced by the Human Rights Act, as well as the administrative court requirement that rules should be those of a free and democratic society.'

 

[charlievictorbravo]

You might also point the Town/Parish Clerk to www.defra.gov.uk The National Pollinator Strategy : for bees and other pollinators in England November 2014.

You're basically saying to the Town/Parish Council "I'll see your Town Clerk and raise you the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs". Town and Parish Councils have no powers other than those given by parliament in Westminster. If the Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP says the government wishes to protect pollinators, it's not for a Town Clerk to say otherwise.

I'd copy my MP and Liz Truss into any correspondence with the Town Clerk.

CVB

 

[Amari]

Many allotment associations forbid tenants to sell produce so could this apply to honey? -though you could claim the nectar is collected from without the allotment.
Also, any chance that one of the tenants has complained to the council about your apiary but not told you?

 

[alldigging]

Many allotment associations forbid tenants to sell produce so could this apply to honey? -though you could claim the nectar is collected from without the allotment.
Also, any chance that one of the tenants has complained to the council about your apiary but not told you?

http://www.organiclea.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/sellingallotmentproduce.pdf

There is however, no restriction on the distribution, by sale or otherwise,
of a certain proportion of the plotholder’s crop. Geoff Stokes, secretary
of the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners (NSALG) has stated
in a recent article: “there seems to be no justification in preventing
[an allotment] tenant from selling or otherwise disposing of ‘surplus’
produce”3. This view has been approved by Paul Clayden, author of The
Law of Allotments (Fifth Edition), and thus probably the leading specialist
on allotment law

 

[Dishmop]

T

his view has been approved by Paul Clayden, author of The
Law of Allotments (Fifth Edition), and thus probably the leading specialist
on allotment law

"Oh Hello. and what do you do Mr Claydon?"

"I'm a specialist in allotment law"

 

[richardbees]

drex

get in contact with your local newspaper and any local Eco friendly groups you can find - google

good luck and keep us informed

richard

 

[Grub]

send a letter to your MP

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

If the Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP says the government wishes to protect pollinators, it's not for a Town Clerk to say otherwise.

And you can't beat a Truss to give support to your pollinators

 

[einsteinagogo]

I had my bees on our Allotments this year, I'm also the Chairman of the Allotment Association. (they were not on my plot, but on land surrounding the allotments, entrances were pointing across open fields, so flight lines were not across allotments).

Plot holders, have been asking me for two years to bring them to site, so this year in April, they were moved to the allotments.

We had no issues with colonies, at one time there were 10 colonies, plus the handful of swarms which arrived on site in May, from elsewhere.

I felt constrained with hive inspections, manipulations, when other plot holders were around, because stray bees would always be around,when moving bb, supers etc plot holders were always curious of the hives, and wanted to watch the bees at close range, I put up fences, and sign age etc

In the end in August I decided in was not a good idea, to have colonies of bee hives so close to job public, I moved them all out to a private out-apiary away from job public.

Plot holders are sad the bees have gone, and want me to bring them back next year...

I gave each plot holder a jar of honey, as I had originally agreed.

I think it's for the best, just in case an incident had occurred, it would have been awkward as Chair.

We also have many chickens on-site as well, four plot holders have chickens, I think there are 50+ chickens on the allotments at present.

 

[citybees]

Others used to have chickens on local council allotments. I found this on allotmentssouthwest.org

'The two exceptions, at least for council run sites are rabbits and hens. The 1952 Allotments Act states that plot holders have a right to keep hens and rabbits on council owned allotment sites; and also have a right to put up or maintain any buildings reasonably necessary for that. Any terms in your lease or tenancy agreement, and into any covenant, forbidding the keeping of rabbits or hens on council owned site is void and cannot be enforced by law. You must of course abide by all other laws such as health and safety and animal welfare. Councils do sometimes think that they have the right to tell plot holders what to do just because they are the council. This is not so as the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts regulations (1999) apply. These make any purely arbitrary, unfair council rules unenforceable. This is reinforced by the Human Rights Act, as well as the administrative court requirement that rules should be those of a free and democratic society.'

Would this be also valid on self managed allotments on land rented from the council?

 

[einsteinagogo]

It really depends on the agreement, allotment holders sign.

In the last two years we have changed allotment agreements, and "we" are self-managed, with land we rent from the Council.

and we've now amended all agreements, so no livestock can be kept, bees, chickens and rabbits.

Because of the issues caused, as Chairperson and Beekeeper, I thought it was the correct thing to do and committee agreed.

Livestock causes issues, and we've had our share.

So if you don't have any clause in your agreement, then should not be any issues with livestock.

If you are Committee Member of an allotment, or starting out managing an allotment, PM/DM me, and I'm willing to discuss at length the issues we had with livestock!

 

[thorn]

T

"Oh Hello. and what do you do Mr Claydon?"

"I'm a specialist in allotment law"

And cemeteries.

 

[pete_allotments]

I started with hives next to the local village allotments. New arrivals on the allotments had issues with the bees. I decided to relocate the hives to a new apiary away from the allotments. I wanted to enjoy beekeeping, without the hassle.
Bees on allotments can be successful, but it can easily become difficult for allotment holders and the beekeeper

 

[madasafish]

Our local allotment has four hives. Fenced enclosure, with gate, hedges around 2 meters high.
No problems with allotment . Holders get free honey AND sales proceeds of honey to allotment £400 last year.
Not council owned though.

Your council need exposing as eco idiots.
Local Facebook should start a riot.
Add local papers, MP and a petition.

 

[Poly Hive]

Another council to join North Oxfordshire as idiots of the decade. And oh dear are they feeling the pressure....LOL

PH

 

[Garry R]

Our local allotment has four hives. Fenced enclosure, with gate, hedges around 2 meters high.
No problems with allotment . Holders get free honey AND sales proceeds of honey to allotment £400 last year.
Not council owned though.

Your council need exposing as eco idiots.
Local Facebook should start a riot.
Add local papers, MP and a petition.

I can see beekeepers propolising themselves to their hives - have to decide which stickiness for polys and wood. Barricades made from old rusty extractors and settling tanks. Entrances to the apiaries reduced to a minimum. Troughs of half melted old comb wax - you know the really mucky stuff full of bits. Eco defence in action!! We can learn from the bees!!!