Anger as vandals attack beehives (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Beekeepers' Association believes the incidents at Knowles Park site in the city may be down to a dare to aggravate insects

7:00am Thursday 2nd August 2012 in News

Thousands of bees have been released in vandal attacks on a Bradford apiary.

Bradford Beekeepers’ Association, which runs courses for people to learn how to keep bees and visits schools educating youngsters of their importance, is devastated after discovering five of its hives had been pushed over while a sixth had a block of concrete placed on top.

The attacks are understood to have taken place around teatime on Monday and Tuesday this week.

The damage was discovered by members who had gone to check their site in Knowles Park, a former bowling club close to Holme Wood estate, where the association has created a beekeeping venue as an educational and teaching facility.

“We do things for schools and everybody else and it is all volunteers,” said member Paul Winder.

There are 14 hives on the site and up until recently the association had not had a problem.

Mr Winder believes the culprits could be carrying out the vandalism as a dare to aggravate the bees by attacking them.

The first spate of damage was Mr Winder’s own hive. He estimates he lost around 2,000 bees.

In the second attack five hives, containing about 50,000 bees, were pushed over, resulting in the loss of up to 10,000 bees.

Mr Winder said bees were protected by law and those who destroyed or poisoned a hive could be fined or face imprisonment.

Sergeant Daniel Stocks, of the Tong and Wyke Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Those responsible for this mindless act of vandalism will quickly discover just how seriously we view behaviour of this nature.

He appealed for anyone with information to contact the Tong and Wyke Neighbourhood Policing Team on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.