Beehives vandalised on King George V Playing Fields

Several beehives at the community apiary at King George V Playing Fields in Ashton-under-Lyne have been damaged after they were overturned by unknown parties.

Photographs taken at the site show an overturned hive surrounded by broken branches and debris. Wooden poles and bricks appear to have been used to move the hive from its stand, while branches from a nearby hedge appear to have been used around the hives.

The Friends of King George V Playing Fields (FoKGVPF), which help maintain the community apiary, said the incident had resulted in the death of a queen bee and potentially thousands of the worker bees that support her.

The organisation said it is now attempting to introduce a replacement queen to the affected colony. The replacement is expected to cost £50, with a further £10 needed for postage.

The Friends said that, if the replacement queen is not accepted by the worker bees upon introduction, a bee colony valued at between £300 and £400 could potentially be lost forever.

The apiary forms part of a community project intended to support pollinators, encourage biodiversity, and provide opportunities for local people to learn about honey bees and their role in the environment. Volunteers care for the colonies and maintain the surrounding area.

A spokesperson for the Friends of King George V Playing Fields told the Tameside Reporter:

“Whoever did this needs to understand that they weren't simply knocking over a box. They were interfering with a living colony and damaging something that volunteers have worked hard to build for the benefit of the community.”

The incident took place over the weekend of September 5th and 6th, and FoKGVPF are appealing for anyone who witnessed any suspicious behaviour around the apiary or has information about the incident to contact them.