A Busy Weekend at the Allotment!

This weekend has certainly been an eventful one at the allotment!

Firstly, a huge thank you to our fantastic volunteers – Marc, David, Ursula, Keith, and especially Rio and his son Solomon – who gave the Harvest of the World area a much-needed tidy-up. Together, they tackled an impressive amount of weeds and removed large quantities of the ever-persistent mare's tail, helping to restore the area and keep it looking its best.

However, the clean-up operation took an unexpected turn when we disturbed a swarm of honey bees that had made their home in some nearby bushes. While it was certainly a surprise, it also provided a fascinating reminder of the wildlife that shares our allotment space.

Fortunately, help was at hand. A quick call to local beekeeper Richard from By The Bees Knees and he was soon on site to safely remove the swarm and relocate the bees to a new hive and home. We'd like to extend our sincere thanks to Richard for his quick response, professionalism and expertise in ensuring the bees were protected and could continue their important work elsewhere. You can follow Richard and learn more about his beekeeping work via his X account: https://x.com/Bythebeesknees?lang=en.

As you can see from the photos, it was a very interesting operation and not something you see every day!

The incident also serves as a useful reminder that if any plot holder comes across a honey bee swarm on their plot or elsewhere on the allotment site, please do not attempt to move or disturb it yourself. Instead, contact a member of the Committee as soon as possible and we will arrange for an experienced beekeeper to attend and safely relocate the bees if necessary.

Events like this highlight just how rich in biodiversity our allotment site is. From pollinators and wildlife to the wide variety of plants, fruit and vegetables being grown, our allotment is much more than a place to cultivate crops – it's a thriving ecosystem that supports nature as well as our local community.

Thank you again to everyone who gave up their time to help this weekend. Your hard work makes a real difference and helps keep the allotment a welcoming and productive space for everyone.