Allotments

[thorn]

I'm wanting to expand out of my garden, and have found some private allotments not far away. Can anyone advise if allotments usually ask for rent, or for you to take a plot, or are they are simply happy to have pollinators on site.

 

[Boston Bees]

Are you talking about renting an allotment plot, or just asking someone with an allotment plot if you can put a beehive on their plot?

 

[thorn]

Are you talking about renting an allotment plot, or just asking someone with an allotment plot if you can put a beehive on their plot?

I'm intending to ask the allotment committee whether I can put bees on the allotment. One question is whether I would be expected to rent a plot.

 

[Amari]

I'm wanting to expand out of my garden, and have found some private allotments not far away. Can anyone advise if allotments usually ask for rent, or for you to take a plot, or are they are simply happy to have pollinators on site.

I'm sure there's no general rule - allotments are variably owned by councils, charities or privately. Mine is owned by the parish council and no-one has ever asked about placing a beehive and there's nothing in our rules.
To wander from your question: there have been many posts on beekeeping on allotments as 'Search' will show. Personally I would not keep a hive on such communal land. There's always going to be a bad day and if allotment holders get stung you will be unpopular and maybe banned. Any benefit from pollination I think would be marginal.
Having said that, I seem to remember that Drex has posted on here more positively.

 

[Worldsend]

Portsmouth BKA have agreement with PCC re bees on allotments conditions re training ,experience ,how many hives and insurance

 

[pargyle]

Some allotments have plots that cannot be let (poor ground, waterlogged in winter, irregular shape etc,) which sometimes they will pemit a beekeeper to site a couple of hives without the plot fees in return for the pollination they bring. Most council ones appear to want you to become a plot holder and tend a plot if you want to keep bees there .. plot fees are not exhorbitant - my 5 Rods is £38 a year all in.

Having said that ... it's a minefield. Whilst the tenancy agreement says you can keep a full colony and a nucleus on site they want - beekeeper to have the Basic assessment and three years experience, 6 foot mesh screens round the hives with a 12' x 12' footprint, Insurance beyond that provided by the BBKA, all plotholders to confirm they are happy to have bees on site, you to contact all the householders around the allotments and advise them you are keeping bees there and the beekeeper to agree to immediate removal of all colonies if the committee sees fit (no reasons given !),

Personally, I wouldn't bother - I was asked if I would site a couple of hives on a different site to where I have my plot - they showed me the area they had in mind, perfect - it was up high, hedges on two sides, the plots adjacent were untenable and just used for compost piles. Three months of meetings, documents, discussions and phone calls and one person objected at the AGM as she 'was allergic' - despite her plot being over 100 yards from the proposed hive site (and to the annoyance of the committee) the site manager said no.

If you do site them on an allotment be prepared to move them because you can guarantee that if anyone gets stung by anything it will be your bees that get the blame and God forbid that a swarm should move in ...

I'd put an empty hive on there to start with and see what happens ...

 

[Apple]

I agree with Amari......I would not keep a hive on such communal land. There's always going to be a bad day and if allotment holders get stung you will be unpopular and maybe banned

However many allotments and communal projects do have beehives as part of the ethos of growing local
A simple ask will not do any harm... have an out apiary 3 miles distant set up and be prepped up to move at a moments notice!
Chons da

 

[drex]

As Amari says I have kept bees on an allotment site for over ten years and have had a generally positive experience, but it has been a long and winding road. I did already rent a plot from the council, who were all for it, as were all the other plot holders. Then a new town clerk took over who said all livestock was banned from the site and the bees had to go. Long story but bees are still there.
All sites have their own rules, which you will need to check out yourself. The council wanted insurance ( they were happy with my BBKA cover) and wanted me to pass the basic exam.
It does have its own problems. I think BBKA , or beebase, do a leaflet about allotment beekeeping

 

[Boston Bees]

One thing I am pretty sure of is that you would be expected to rent a plot. Allotments tend to have little space that isn't part of someone's plot. I am on our local parish council and we have a couple of allotment sites that we manage. I am not aware of any plot holder asking about bees (certainly none have any) but I am 100% certain that if someone came along and asked "can I have bees without renting a plot" the answer would be a polite "no"

 

[Swarm]

A dear, departed friend of mine was chairman of his allotment society and had a separate plot for his bees. It was at the end and against the perimeter and it also had a bit of a hedge that was an ideal screen for the adjoining plot. All was fine until that next plot was rented and the new guy ripped the hedge out to plant beans, a few stings and complaints later and he was asked to remove them

 

[ericbeaumont]

all plotholders to confirm they are happy to have bees on site, you to contact all the householders around the allotments and advise them you are keeping bees there and the beekeeper to agree to immediate removal of all colonies if the committee sees fit

Personally, I wouldn't bother

I wouldn't have bothered either if those had been the requirements, but as bees were already on my allotment (the beekeeper died and no-one volunteered to take them on) I've had no hoops to jump through and have been left alone for twelve years. Started with three colonies and there are eighteen now...

Yes, I pay for the plot (on the edge of the site, against the hedge line) and when Old Bill died on the next plot I took that on and planted an orchard as a flight barrier; I have a 2m mesh and post barrier as well and no trouble from anyone except Anna (two plots over) who was stung occasionally. As the Committee tested the bees by walking in front of the hives, they accepted that Anna's perfume was to blame.

To keep everyone sweet I cut the communal paths occasionally and hold honey sales in the autumn, giving them 20% off market rates and letting them know it. Occasionally a primary school will visit and sit in the orchard listening to the story of pollination.

Of course, a few swarms have hung about over the years: one afternoon a U3A group came to chat and we discovered they were standing next to a silent swarm; they were delighted to see it boxed before they left.

Nowadays councils and associations tend to ask for the Basic Assessment, for proof of attendance at a Beginner Course, membership of a BKA and PLI. Some have had negative experiences of beekeepers and won't have you, others go out of their way and help fund an apiary.

If the Committee or Allotment Officer is hesitant, ask that they give you a trial period of one season; make sure all is sweet for that period, or as Philip said, keep empty hives for a while.

 

[Charli]

I keep my bees on an allotment (council owned, ran by a commitee). I do rent two plots as I also garden. The bees live in an 'enclosure' made of pallets and shade netting- from the communal path this looks likes a fruit cage, and no one can see the bees to mess with them (we get a fair amount of vandalism from local hoodlums).

I had to ask allotment holders before I moved the bees there, at the yearly meeting0- which probably 2% of plot holders actually attended. I don't think most of them know that the bees are even there. And I had to show the council my BKA membership.

I can't sell anything from my allotment (as it is a council one, I doubt private ones would have this rule)- honey gets sold from the 'allotment shop' but I don't make any money on it (I lose money really, but it does keep the plot rents really low at £15 a year). I do sell to 'family, friends and neighbours'- but if a council allotment I'd check they don't have a rule like that!

 

[Bee Bumble]

I have some hives on an allotment that is privately run (not council). I do not have a plot and was not asked to have one, the hives are on rough land at the edge of the site.
The chairman of the committee refused the offer of honey because all of the committee (c. 16) would have to have a jar or two and they only wanted the free pollination service anyway. I am allowed to sell honey to allotment holders.
This is the first year I have kept bees there and have had no problems so far, but am concerned about the possibility of people being stung (especialy children) and also security.

 

[Niv]

I keep Bees on two allotment sites. In both cases I was asked to put them there by an allotment committee member. I do not have an allotment myself on either site.

On one site I pay £10 per year, the plot is on the boundary of the site and has netting around it so that the nearest plots do not get bothered from flight paths.

On the other site I pay nothing, the plot again is on the boundary but with no netting etc.

In both cases it was voted on in one of their meetings to confirm if the beehives should be allowed on site.

I know of at least one person that has been stung on one of the sites (because she told me), she did not seem particularly bothered - however everyone is different.

I also receive a reasonable amount of free veg.

 

[SixFooter]

I've got bees on my own allotment and have had bees there for about 10 years. I know that when plot holders ask permission to keep bees now, the Council tend to say no. I know this because
some people have asked how I managed to get permission when they were denied It. The truth is that when I first asked, I was told no as well until the couple on the plot next to me were mysteriously given permission. I complained it wasn't fair and got the permission. I don't know what political machinations were Used by the people on the plot next door, but they were involved with the council in a number of different areas. I suspect they just knew someone With influence. They are long gone, but my bees are still on my plot. So far no complaints, but I give away a jar of honey to each plot holder on the (very small), site.

I have also got bees on a privately managed allotment site. The plot holders there want the Bees for pollination.

 

[steve1958]

I had bees on an allotment site for many years.
I didnt pay any rent for the site, but did join the Allotment association as an associate member.
As well as keeping bees I also helped to keep wasps and Hornets under control
The allotment keepers were happy for me to be there as they felt their crops benefited.
They were grateful having someone that would remove wasp nests from their sheds.
I was able to sell a lot of honey there, and was also kept supplied with fresh vegetables.
The local council and local Beekeepers association approved me having bees there.
You do have to keep on top of things.
I had a few swarms which I was able to use as a teaching aid.
I eventually handed the site over to another beekeeper when offered a new site closer to home.