Two allotment owners have been threatened with eviction unless they remove their beehives – by a council that claims to want to encourage wildlife.
Helen Ransome and Zoe Shelley could be stung for their picturesque plot after re-introducing 200,000 pollinators to the area without permission.
But they have warned it would be a ‘travesty’ for Southampton, Hants, and its plants if threats to re-home their beloved bees are carried out.
The return of honey bees had caused a buzz among fellow allotment owners, who are now ‘up in arms’ at the the Labour-run city council’s demands to re-home them.
Miss Ransome, 55, and Miss Shelley, 62, revealed that before their intervention, pollination was so bad gardeners resorted to cross-pollinating plants with paintbrushes last year.
The row broke out after the retirement of a long-standing plot owner who kept bees inspired them to re-establish the insects in April this year.
The bees were ‘needed’ to help on land which boasts the likes of squash, beans, potatoes as well as pear, plum and apple trees – the last of which looks to have benefited from their reintroduction after ‘fruiting’ for the first time in five years.
However, despite being tucked away in the corner and having received no complaints, they have been ordered to remove them or face eviction from the site after being spotted by a routine inspection.
Helen Ransome insists the allotment owners need the bees to grow their vegetables and fruit
Southampton city council – which encourages residents to ‘create wildflower areas’ – has been accused of hypocrisy over plans to get rid of bees
The council – which encourages residents to ‘create wildflower areas’ – has been accused of hypocrisy over plans to get rid of bees by the pair who are now seeking retrospective permission.
Stained glass artists Miss Ransome said: ‘We decided to replace the bees that were lost because pollination is so bad.
‘We took them thinking it would be good for Southampton, we need pollinators.’
Miss Ransome, who has co-owned the lot since 2022, said the bees were detected during a routing inspection at Athelstan Road Allotments in Southampton.
Gardener Miss Shelley, said: ‘We immediately apologised and are seeking retrospective permission.
‘We thought it would be a nice gift to the city as we need pollinators.
‘We are in the midst of a bee crisis globally and they’re beneficial to the environment.’
Miss Ransome added: ‘Everyone loved them, they were really pleased to see bees back on the site.
‘It’s because we didn’t ask for permission, but we were replacing hives that were lost.
‘Allotments need pollination.
‘We need pollinators to grow our vegetables and fruit.
‘We have honey bees in the hives and bumble bees and others sometimes visit.
‘Last year we were out cross-pollinating with paintbrushes by hand.’
Miss Ransome says the council has ordered them to remove the hives but hasn’t given them long enough due to the weight of the honey the bees have produced
She said the hives had been in place for over 30 years but had seen a ‘noticeable decline’ in bee numbers over the past five years.
The friends got an email from the council in June, telling them to remove the hives by early July.
Miss Ransome argued this was not long enough to safely move the hives, due to the weight of the honey the bees have produced.
‘They have really thrived,’ she continued, ‘they’re so heavy it’s impossible to lift them.’
The bees are in hives that aren’t designed for making honey as the bees are focused on pollinating – which makes them less likely to swarm.
They are also managed by professional beekeeper Austin Thompson, who is a member of The British Beekeepers Association.
‘We thought about all those sorts of things,’ she continued.
‘We hadn’t got hives for lots of honey, we needed pollinators.’
She was eventually granted an extension of mid-August to remove them.
‘The council are asking people not to cut their lawn to attract pollinators but then telling us to move them,’ she added.
‘They would need to be moved two miles away – otherwise they fly back to the site – so they’ll have to move out of the city.
‘It’s sad for the city and sad for the bees.
‘I got used to them being there.
‘I have taken pictures of them down in that area.
‘It will be a travesty for the allotments, for definite. Bees are so important.
‘They are a good indicator for what sort of pollution is in the air – we know how important bee are.’
She said other allotment holders are ‘up in arms’ over the decision.
‘They’ve been emailing the council but nothing we say is swaying them,’ she added.
‘It’s like one person has made a decision and everyone else has had to go along with it.
‘Others are just miffed – why on earth wouldn’t you want bees on an allotment?
‘One said he was so happy to see more bees after the old plot owner had left because we need pollinators and doing it with a paintbrush doesn’t always work.
‘Our apple tree’s branches are to the floor, they’re so heavy with apples this year.
‘That hasn’t fruited for the last five years.
‘It might not be the bees, but it’s a coincidence that trees that weren’t fruiting before are fruiting now we have bees.’
Owners have created a wildflower garden in the allotment for the bees to flourish
On its website, Southampton City Council states the need for pollinators such as butterflies, moths, bees and beetles.
It says: ‘Pollination is important as it is how many plants reproduce, including food crops such as apples, pears, strawberries and tomatoes.
‘A healthy population of insects will provide food for other creatures in the food chain such as birds, bats and small mammals.
‘We are keen to help residents identify and create wildflower areas and can work with volunteers to find a suitable site, prepare the area and help with the supply and planting of plug plants.’
Asked for comment on Miss Ransom and Miss Shelley’s bees, a council spokesman said: ‘We are working with the tenant to support the removal of the beehives as they were moved to the allotment site without consultation with the council, contrary to allotment rules.
‘Southampton City Council recognises the immense value of bees to people and the planet and will work with allotment tenants to support beekeeping wherever possible.’
They added: ‘We encourage those who are considering keeping bees to discuss this with the allotments team as early as possible.’
