Public footpaths

[Barbie bee]

Hi
As a newbie I have been offered some land by a local farmer which is fab. My question is, how close to a footpath am I allowed to put my hives? I’m siting them behind a hege with the entrance crop facing. Any info gratefully received

 

[masterBK]

Hopefully path not used by horse riders who might make contact with bees skimming over the hedge.

 

[Levitt53]

There is a hive about 6 feet away from the edge of a busy path in Wicken Fen a National Trust place near us. I'm always amazed that someone put it so close. I always stop and watch them. I've never seen it inspected, always has two supers and the bees don't seem aggressive at all. It's a lovely garden with some much better space to put it in my opinion.

 

[enrico]

If you get bees with a bad hair day and you are inspecting when someone walks by and gets multiple stings how are you going to feel? I felt bad enough when my neighbour got one from a persistent follower the other day! I would not have a hive near a public footpath.
E

 

[pargyle]

There's no legal requirement - you can site your hives wherever you like but .. it depends on how high and how dense the hedge is. You could erect a net screen on three sides if the hedge is low ~ that would get them up in the air on the occasions they fly in that direction. With the entrances pointing away from the path there is less chance of them flying at low level in the direction of people using the path but the more you can do to get them up in the aire the better. Remember though, they will fly straight towards the forage they are interested in .. once they are out of the hive,

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

If the hedge is tall and thick Summer and Winter I can't see too much of an issue. If it's not and the bees can easily go over at head height or below, or go through gaps - then beware.
Also beware if the hives are easily visible from the footpath - there are lots of idiots out there.

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

If you get bees with a bad hair day and you are inspecting when someone walks by and gets multiple stings how are you going to feel? I felt bad enough when my neighbour got one from a persistent follower the other day! I would not have a hive near a public footpath.
E

Probably not as bad as the walker or your neighbour perhaps?

 

[Hachi]

I've had bee's ping me from over 100 meters away. Pargyle is right, you can site your hives wherever you want, there are good and bad sites and IMHO, this is a bad site.

 

[Ian123]

I would not want bees so close to public view or access regardless of other considerations.

 

[madasafish]

If your site is visible from a footpath
OR
You inspect in a white suit

then you are effectively advertising the presence of bees to all and sundry..

You may attract those who claim to be stung (whether by bees or not is irrelevant) and the idiots of the neighbourhood...

 

[For want of a better word]

Hopefully path not used by horse riders who might make contact with bees skimming over the hedge.

Horses are not allowed to use public footpaths.... only people ( possibly with a dog in tow on a lead)
Horses ( and bicycles) can use bridleways
Majority of the old RUPPS ( Roads used as public paths) were regraded under the disastrous NERC Act, miles of Bridle ways, and Rupps were downgraded to footpath.
Restictions placed on Biways that had been open to all trafic and in some counties many "white roads" and unclassified rights of way simply vanished off the maps.

As far as placement of beehives goes... common sense should be the guiding factor... often it seems not at all common.

How much use does the footpath get.... probably much more than you think!!

Chons da

 

[thorn]

A friend of mine allowed a beekeeper to put two hives in his garden. Unfortunately he allowed them to be put beside the pavement, with just a high hedge separating them.
One fine evening the beekeeper inspected while people were out for a stroll. It ended with several people stung and the hives being moved out of the garden.

 

[Adam Bourne]

The closer your bees are to the general public, the more likely they are to be disturbed. Never underestimate how inconsiderate some people can be!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

....or stupid

 

[philipm]

Years ago I had my hives in the field with the road the other side .I came home from work one evening to find the council cutting a tree in the hedge .It was our hedge but nobody had thought to tell us about it.I soon decided to move everything to the other side of the field you can never allow for other peoples stupidity.