Hi Peter

In your message of Feb 4th 9:12PM...

You mention many restrictions on keeping bees.

I'll be quite fair and say I have never found any such restrictions in UK,
nor have I found any circumstance whereby such restrictions would be
required.

> Unfortunately, the couple spent a lot of time in the
> front of the house gardening and the bees would fly
> over and sting them. We worked those hives about
> once a month, so WE weren't riling them up. I think
> they were mad all the time because of skunks.
> Skunks can really put a hive in a bad mood all summer.
> Of course, if your bees are actually causing a nuisance,
> you are obligated to move them regardless of the codes.

The above is an example of a beekeeper problem, it has very little to do
with the bees. If you keep bees in an area where they are likely to be
'upset' by skunks, you have not done your 'homework' and are totally to
blame for any incedent that ensues.

If bees are causing a nuisance, then of course you are obligated to move
them. However I have never come across a valid case of such nuisance.

As an experiment you can place an empty hive in a prominent position on your
front lawn... sooner or later someone will knock on your door and claim that
they have been stung by one of your bees. Once you show them that the hive
is empty you will not hear any complaints even if you populate that hive
with bees.

I no longer keep bees in my back garden at home, because one of my
neighbours is paranoid about bees, but in all the years that I did have them
there they were within 18" from a public walkway. I know of one occasion
when a lady was stung (by a bee that got caught in her hair). I said I know
of the occasion, because I was told by another neighbour... no complaint was
made by the person that was stung, nor was it ever mentioned to me in
conversation with the stung person.

A beekeeper is obligated to keep stock that does not have a propensity to
sting regardless of whether in a rural or suburban setting. Contrary to
widely held belief it is not aggressive bees that get the most honey,
however they may be the strongest candidates for robbing.


Best Regards & 73s, Dave Cushman
Beekeeping and Bee Breeding Website
http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman