Beehive in Neighbour's Garden

fiisch

My mother-in-law sadly suffered a stroke a few years ago and has lost some speech and mobility - she is still able to walk but very slowly for short distances. She lives in a terraced council house in a town about two hours drive from us.

While she was out in the garden this weekend, my MIL and her friend were viciously attacked by a swarm of bees, both getting quite badly stung (my wife had to help remove three stings from her face).

She has since called and managed to explain that her new neighbours to one side have a beehive in their garden. The fence on that side is quite low (circa 4ft).

Given the proximity of the gardens, it seems somewhat inconsiderate to keep beehives. I've nothing against bees particularly - I enjoyed having a bees nest under a planter one year in our garden, but they seemed to be the friendly, non-swarming variety... I always thought bees weren't hostile unless provoked, but in this case the swarm took them completely by surprise.

My wife is worried that due to my MIL's lack of mobility, and that she quite often has the grandchildren round to the garden, there is a risk of the bees attacking again. A check on Google seems to suggest there is no legislation against beekeeping irrespective of garden size and proximity to neighbours, although it seems somewhat inconsiderate given the garden size.

She isn't in a position to have a conversation with the neighbours on this issue due her speech issues, but before I have a word, where does she stand? Does she have any recourse for complaint e.g.: to the local authority? How often are bees likely to swarm? (I thought it was only when the nest was destroyed, but then I don't claim to be an expert...!).

Simby

I thought bees would not attack unless provoked but I could be totally wrong in that. I would not like a beehive near my garden either but I think for nature they are viewed positively.. can’t find any restrictions.

Flobberchops

I feel this would probably be encompassed by your local authority's guidelines on animal nuisance.

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/keeping-safe/community-family/antisocial-behaviour


I'm sure your neighbours have the best intentions and it really does warm my heart to hear of people being self sufficient and helping British bees, but housing estates are for people to live in. If a youngster or somebody with a severe allergy was stung, it could be fatal.

oystercatcher

This supposedly doesn't happen with bees. Swarming bees are supposed to be happy !

I know it can happen though, because back in the '70's my Dad kept bees in our garden and although they were fine at first they turned into quite an aggressive breed for some reason and I used to be dive bombed and stung in the garden. I hated them.

Anyway eventually 'Ethel next door' got upset and complained to the council (I believe , wasn't council houses!) and Dad was asked to move them and the bees all went off to a nearby farm.

I remember Dad coming home one day saying he had been chased across a field by the bees , he was covered in stings! I think there was an aggressive strain come over from Spain or something at the time! Dad was fairly immune to the stings but if I was stung I would swell up and be in loads of pain!

Anyway, after my ramblings ! I would contact Environmental Health in your Mum's area and if they don't cover it they may have some ideas to help.

Good luck .

Ms_Chocaholic

Is there a beekeepers forum you could register on and ask rather than here. This was the first one when I googled it - https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/

davidmcn

Flobberchops wrote: »

If a youngster or somebody with a severe allergy was stung, it could be fatal.

Those with known allergies are most likely to have EpiPens to hand (I knew someone in that category who was quite comfortable in her job as a National Trust ranger in gardens with plenty of bees!).

Don't think they're going to be fatal (at least not in a UK context) unless there's an allergy involved.

Keep_pedalling

How do you know the swarm of bees were from the neighbours hive? There are plenty of wild bee colonies that could have been responsible.

A single hive is not likely to cause problems and there are no laws about keeping then in urban environments.

Davesnave

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

How do you know the swarm of bees were from the neighbours hive? There are plenty of wild bee colonies that could have been responsible.

A single hive is not likely to cause problems and there are no laws about keeping then in urban environments.

I agree.

Leading on from this, you should take a view whether it was a one-off or something that needs action on your part; the most obvious one being the erection of a taller fence, pushing the exit/return path of next door's bees higher, though 2m is the highest possible on a boundary.

However, such a measure would be of little use if the troublesome bees came from elsewhere.

bouicca21

As I understand it from a friend who keeps bees in the garden, the bees have a set flight path. They enter and leave the hive the same way every time.

Is their flight path across MiL’s garden? If so can the hive be situated so that it doesn’t? How long have the neighbours had the hive? Is it a new arrival?

Davesnave

Flobberchops wrote: »

I feel this would probably be encompassed by your local authority's guidelines on animal nuisance.
https://crimestoppers-uk.org/keeping-safe/community-family/antisocial-behaviour

A 'nuisance' is something that is reasonably persistent. For example, one loud party might be annoying, but it wouldn't constitute anti-social behaviour worthy of action. A similar party every Saturday, Sunday, and at other random evening times, might well be.

This is a single instance, so it isn't a nuisance yet, or even proven to be related to the hive next door.

Grenage

I've been surrounded by wasps and bees on countless occasions, we've had a wasp nest directly outside a back door, and I've never been stung.


My friend was on a picnic; a bee landed on his arm and stung him for no apparent reason.


The bottom line is that regardless of a neighbouring hive, you're no more nor less likely to be stung.