Mission
House Bee
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2008
- Messages
- 114
- Reaction score
- 0
- Hive Type
- Langstroth
I recently took a small number of my hives to my allotment. This was with the full support of everyone else on the allotment and the site secretary. Being a responsible Apiarist I also erected a 2m high mesh fence around the hives and made sure everything was safe and secure. I engaged all my fellow allotmentees and made sure they were comfortable with the bees and also welcoming of the fact they were there. Everyone was happy.
This is a link to my Facebook pictures that show the allotments development since April. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=112770&id=633682194&l=a355845d73
On Wednesday I received a letter from the local council telling me I had to remove the bees as they are livestock and as such I don’t have permission to have them there. They also stated that Kirklees Council don’t allow bee keeping on their allotments, so I must remove them within 28 days or risk being thrown off my site. They are sighting section 12 of the Allotments Act of 1950, regarding livestock as the reason to remove the bees. Given my desire to keep the plot, obviously I am going to comply and remove the bees. However................................
I decided to raise this issue with our local news paper as quite frankly the ruling was stupid to say the least. I also contacted our local MP’s Barry Sheerman and Kali Mountford, and then finally our new Mayer who was the first Green Party candidate to hold the post. Finally I showed the letter to a friend who is a bee keeper and also a Magistrate. She took the letter to a District Judge to ask his opinion. And this is where it gets interesting. The Judge told her, that under UK law Livestock is considered to be a vertebrate. Insects do not come under the ruling of section 12, as they are not vertebrates, therefore the council cannot force their removal.
Our local newspaper decided that the story was of serious importance given the state of the future that the Honey bee faces and sent a reporter up to take photos and the story. Today it made the front page!!
See these links.
http://www.examiner.co.uk/
http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/loca...ent-because-they-re-livestock-86081-23929478/
In order to gain some value from my £25 membership, I am now writing to the BBKA to ask them to get involved with the Education of Kirklees Council. I am also asking Kirklees Council to confirm their policies on Honey bees as their Environment Office is in favour of the promotion of the Honey bee, but the department in charge of the Allotments is against them. I think I have stirred up the proverbial “Hornets Nest” but if it makes Kirklees Council sit up and take notice well then it’s worth the trouble. I shall still be removing the hives from the allotment, however they will be returning as soon as this battle is won and Kirklees Council accepts the fact that in line with other local councils, Honey bees should be encouraged on an allotment.
I will keep everyone informed on how things develop.
This is a link to my Facebook pictures that show the allotments development since April. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=112770&id=633682194&l=a355845d73
On Wednesday I received a letter from the local council telling me I had to remove the bees as they are livestock and as such I don’t have permission to have them there. They also stated that Kirklees Council don’t allow bee keeping on their allotments, so I must remove them within 28 days or risk being thrown off my site. They are sighting section 12 of the Allotments Act of 1950, regarding livestock as the reason to remove the bees. Given my desire to keep the plot, obviously I am going to comply and remove the bees. However................................
I decided to raise this issue with our local news paper as quite frankly the ruling was stupid to say the least. I also contacted our local MP’s Barry Sheerman and Kali Mountford, and then finally our new Mayer who was the first Green Party candidate to hold the post. Finally I showed the letter to a friend who is a bee keeper and also a Magistrate. She took the letter to a District Judge to ask his opinion. And this is where it gets interesting. The Judge told her, that under UK law Livestock is considered to be a vertebrate. Insects do not come under the ruling of section 12, as they are not vertebrates, therefore the council cannot force their removal.
Our local newspaper decided that the story was of serious importance given the state of the future that the Honey bee faces and sent a reporter up to take photos and the story. Today it made the front page!!
See these links.
http://www.examiner.co.uk/
http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/loca...ent-because-they-re-livestock-86081-23929478/
In order to gain some value from my £25 membership, I am now writing to the BBKA to ask them to get involved with the Education of Kirklees Council. I am also asking Kirklees Council to confirm their policies on Honey bees as their Environment Office is in favour of the promotion of the Honey bee, but the department in charge of the Allotments is against them. I think I have stirred up the proverbial “Hornets Nest” but if it makes Kirklees Council sit up and take notice well then it’s worth the trouble. I shall still be removing the hives from the allotment, however they will be returning as soon as this battle is won and Kirklees Council accepts the fact that in line with other local councils, Honey bees should be encouraged on an allotment.
I will keep everyone informed on how things develop.
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