Bees on allotments?

[Stedic]

I really REALLY want to get some bees, but my garden isn't quite big enough, and I don't want to put my neighbourly relations under more pressure - 5 chickens and 2 cats are probably enough for suburban Leicester!

I wondered about approaching the allotment society, but they're a conservative bunch at the best of times and I'ma new plot holder as it is.

Does anyone have any ideas, or perhaps know of an area within Leicestershire that I could set up a hive?


Steve

[Stedic]

[goodlife]

It would be best to contact your local beekeeping association branch for that info...they should get some enquiries from farmers etc.
I have been in past knocking on farmers doors and asking if they would be happy to let me keep hive or two on some part of their land..promise for jar or two honey from the crop works wonders ;)
Last few years there is been such amount of news of bees and their decline that I find there is more offers about for hive locations than there is takers.
But you just have to be brave and go and ask...you have taken first steps now ;)

[tonybloke]

before you approach anyone about keeping bees on their land

take some recognised training

get some public liability insurance for your bees ( Join BBKA)

make sure you have a 'bee-buddy' ( someone the landowner can call if they can't get hold of you )

have an alternative site ready ( bees can turn 'nasty' and need to moved straight away)

rgds, Tony ( Norfolk Bee Keeper )

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've never had a hive turn nasty in ten years. It can happen if you have n imported queen - carniolans have a reputation here - and the bees supersede her with a hybrid. For some reason the cross can be wild. But if you use local bees, as you should, you should never have that problem. You just have to make sure you don't acquire a nasty hive. Get advice from the local Beekeepers' Association.

[cjb02]

before you approach anyone about keeping bees on their land

take some recognised training

get some public liability insurance for your bees ( Join BBKA)

make sure you have a 'bee-buddy' ( someone the landowner can call if they can't get hold of you )

have an alternative site ready ( bees can turn 'nasty' and need to moved straight away)

rgds, Tony ( Norfolk Bee Keeper )

I agree.

I would suggest be wary about allotments to as you still have neighbours there to (they work for some people but not for others). speak to local land owners as goodlife suggests , look on google maps for locations, land and farm type places.

CJB

[Robert_Brenchley]

There are a lot of people round the country keeping bees on allotments; I've had them on mine for ten years. The two things you really have to watch are temper, for obvious reasons, and swarming, which is harmless (except to your honey crop) but scares people. If you can arrange hives so that the bees aren't flying low across anywhere people are going to be that makes a big difference. Mine face into a hedge, and by the time they've gone over that, they're above head height.

[spudpud]

At the moment, it's generally easy to find sites by asking around. I mailshotted a few by finding likely looking farms  on multimap and got 2 apiaries that way. It's useful to have several sites btw and better if they are 3 miles +  apart. I keep bees on an allotment as well and there have been no problems, but another beekeeper on the same site has had issues with neighbouring plot holders. 

[saddad]

Welcome to A4A Spudpud  :)

[Stedic]

Thanks for your advice everyone.

I've signed up to a beginners course over the spring with my local BKA.  Hopefully someone there will have a site I can use or let me help with theirs.  I did see at the local Eco House that they have 9 unused hives in a special bee area that have been neglected for a few years - might be a possibility there so will have to see.

Thanks again,

Steve

[Robert_Brenchley]

I should home straight in on anything like that! If anyone wants advice, please do as, or drop me a PM.