John's bees - Help fund new hives

Arson at the apiary - John's bees killed

 Sunday 15th February 2015, just gone half ten at night I went to shut the curtains upstairs. I could see a fire and for a moment thought it was the neighbour having a late bonfire. When I looked closely I realised it was hives on fire in the apiary in the allotment behind our houses.

I shouted my husband to ring the fire brigade whilst I ran to put my shoes and coat on.

There was nothing I could do but watch the flames burn the hive. It was well alight. I rang John and told him his hive was on fire.

It was a horrific call to have to make. John was unable to come down and see for himself as he had a bad knee.

The fire brigade arrived and put out the fire. The fire man smelt the adjacent hive and said it smelt like thinners. All of my hives there had also been doused in thinners - they smelt quite strongly.

One of John's hives had been completely lost. Another is damaged and needs replacing. My four hives are intact but until the weather is warmer I will not know if I have a healthy queen laying still.

A few days later John was able to come down and survey the site. All there is a burnt patch of ground and a burnt hive stand.

We are all devastated by the loss of the hive and potential loss of other hives.

I would like to help John buy new hives to replace these hives - he has completely lost one and another is damaged and needs to be replaced.

If we manage to raise more money we will use it to improve security at the apiary.

We had been working with the local councillor to have apiary visits so that children and adults could be shown inside the hive. This may have to be delayed if we have no colonies of bees alive in spring.