Association Apiaries

[sussexbaker]

Hi all

My local association has relied upon the use of a member's field for it's main apiary, and it's assets have been stored with various members. It's been a good arrangement but with an eye to the future I've been talking with people about the need for the association to have something on a more formal basis. So I wondered what most people's associations do for apiary sites? Do any actually own the land or does everyone's rent them? Has anyone gone through the purchasing/renting process?

Thanks

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Our association rents a small enclosure from the local estate - it has done since well before my time - has room for a couple of dozen hives, a twenty foot shed and an open area for chatting, away from the bees.

 

[WoodenBeam]

We rent a small secure area from the local borough council within a park

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Manchester & District BKA hire a building and land in a major park, from Manchester Council. The deal includes having it open to the public for a few hours each Sunday.

However, under the present awful financial situation for councils, they're trying to vary the arrangement. Discussions are ongoing.

Dusty

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Hi all

My local association has relied upon the use of a member's field for it's main apiary, and it's assets have been stored with various members. It's been a good arrangement but with an eye to the future I've been talking with people about the need for the association to have something on a more formal basis. So I wondered what most people's associations do for apiary sites? Do any actually own the land or does everyone's rent them? Has anyone gone through the purchasing/renting process?

Thanks

We have a mesh enclosed Apiary with room for about 14 hives situated in a secluded, wooded nature conservation trust site. Outside the enclosure is an 8 x 6 shed to keep odds and ends in. I'm not aware of any formal agreement but I'm given to understand the site was established with a nature conservation grant. Some equipment is kept in other locations and members apiaries/homes. This works for us. Purchasing a permanent site may introduce unwanted responsibility and costs such as planning permission, rates etc (unintended consequences)

 

[Vortex]

The Wokingham Association has had and Association apiary for a number of years.
Until the early summer it was based in an area of land that a local animal charity allowed us to use but due a change in their land use requirements that arrangement was terminated.
This caused a few problems requiring the rapid relocation of hives to other sites and the requirement to look for a new home for the apiary and the disruption of this years teaching schedule.
A chance meeting between one of our committee members and a local journo resulted in an article in the local paper, brought forward one offer of land which was being pursued, until we received a better offer of an enclosed parcel of land from a large well know PC supplier. We are in the process of relocating the bees and purchasing a new shed to house all the association kit in.

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Manchester & District BKA hire a building and land in a major park, from Manchester Council. The deal includes having it open to the public for a few hours each Sunday.

However, under the present awful financial situation for councils, they're trying to vary the arrangement. Discussions are ongoing.

Dusty

Apologies.

I should have said, "rent", not "hire".

Dusty

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Apologies.

I should have said, "rent", not "hire".

Dusty

I suppose it depends on how many storeys there are in the building

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

I suppose it depends on how many storeys there are in the building

Only one storey but lots of tall tales.

Dusty

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

that's cleared that one up - two stories would be hire

 

[bpmurray]

Our assoc. has 2 apiaries, one donated by a friendly landowner (the piece of land is pretty dreadful so it has minimal use for agriculture but it's great for hives) and the other is from Coillte, a sort of Irish equivalent of the Woodland Trust, who are happy to facilitate what might help them achieve their goals.