Interesting idea.. will others follow?

[mikeyspikey]

Found this on my allotment website yesterday...

Bees have been much in the news recently. Having noticed the diminishing number of bees and the effect of this on our gardens members of the Brockweir, Hewelsfield & St Briavels Garden Society decided at the Society?s AGM on Friday 28th November 2008 that they will make a grant of ?300 to a person living within the Parishes of Hewelsfield and Brockweir and St Briavels who wishes to take up bee-keeping.
The grant is intended to fund the purchase of bees, hives and the necessary clothing and equipment to keep bees, and a basic bee-keeping course run by the Dean Forest Branch of the Gloucestershire Beekeepers? Association. The society will help to find a site for the hives and already has the offer of one.
It is a condition of the grant the hives are kept within the two parishes. In this way all local gardeners will benefit from the grant.
By giving publicity to this we hope that other societies will follow suit and encourage beekeeping in their localities.

 

[MJBee]

What an excellent idea - an excellent way for a newbee to get started.
I hope a lot of other societies follow the lead.
Mike

 

[Widdershins]

Thats brilliant!!

maybe more parishes will do the same, if the above is made national news?

 

[Poly Hive]

That is truly forward and first class thinking.

Well done them.

 

[Alan Robertson]

Alan Robertson

In December 2008 MickeySpikey reported on the Forum the scheme promoted by the Brockweir, Hewelsfield & St Briavels Garden Society by which a £300 grant is paid to to a person living within the Parishes of Hewelsfield and Brockweir and St Briavels who wishes to take up bee-keeping.

A grant was made in January 2009 and so successful has the venture been that a further grant was made in January this year. This means that new hives are being established on Hewelsfield and St Briavels Commons by beekeepers who have attended the Dean Forest Beekeepers Basic Course and have been mentored by a professional beekeeper. You will find further information about the scheme at http://www.wyegarden.com/

The supportive comments by contributers to the Forum are much appreciated.

Alan Robertson

 

[Poly Hive]

Excellent news.

PH

 

[Brosville]

Lumme, doing it the way I did (2 hives, all the gear and 2 swarms under £100 the lot), you could comfortably set up with 6-8 hives and occupants........ Riches indeed!

 

[Rosti]

That's brilliant! doesn't mention relocation expenses? Anyone know some estate agents in the area - free bees, nice countryside, great walking. A compelling case for moving house.

Would be great if the idea spread.