You can probably imagine how I felt, seeing my little apiary devoid of any vestige of bees and equipment.
Just silence where one would normally expect, even at this time of the year, to experience the sound of bees.
It was a mixture of shock and disbelief, and then the realisation that all my efforts over the last 18 months had also disappeared, refurbished hive parts, and some old but still in use equipment, and an old but complete Glen hive which I kept for nostalgic reasons. Glen hives were once very popular in Scotland, but progress had overtaken them and most hives now in use up here are known as Smith hives. Sad to see a piece of history go with the rest. I am very unlikely to be able to replace that..
The majority of my stocksare were kept in Smiths as are 90% of Scottish bees. These hives are easily constructed, use short lugged BS frames, and are much easier to transport to the heather in the season.
Just silence where one would normally expect, even at this time of the year, to experience the sound of bees.
It was a mixture of shock and disbelief, and then the realisation that all my efforts over the last 18 months had also disappeared, refurbished hive parts, and some old but still in use equipment, and an old but complete Glen hive which I kept for nostalgic reasons. Glen hives were once very popular in Scotland, but progress had overtaken them and most hives now in use up here are known as Smith hives. Sad to see a piece of history go with the rest. I am very unlikely to be able to replace that..
The majority of my stocks
Because almost all Scottish hives are of the Smith design, my missing ones are likely to go un noticed amongst others.
I contacted the local Police Station to report the theft. They were somewhat bemused at first but they realised that the loss of the colonies was probably a crime and they publicised the details. Any news regarding bees soon gets picked up by the media and the police press release certainly had that effect. BBC Scotland news carried the story and local press agencies spread the news amongst the Scottish Press. Unfortunately this has not led to the return of the bees. I fear that they are now long gone. It is a sad fact that bee and hive theft is becoming a growing problem throughout the UK.
I contacted the local Police Station to report the theft. They were somewhat bemused at first but they realised that the loss of the colonies was probably a crime and they publicised the details. Any news regarding bees soon gets picked up by the media and the police press release certainly had that effect. BBC Scotland news carried the story and local press agencies spread the news amongst the Scottish Press. Unfortunately this has not led to the return of the bees. I fear that they are now long gone. It is a sad fact that bee and hive theft is becoming a growing problem throughout the UK.
I said in part one of this blog, that we have many ways to reflect. Bad, puzzleing and annoying are well covered by the foregoing saga, but life goes on. Moments of kindness come when least expected.
Another good beekeeping friend who is soon to move away rang and said that he had a spare colony located in a wood about 20 miles from my home, "Would you like it to start you off again?".
A simple question offering a generous gift, restoring my faith in human nature. To you, Pat, I thank you for your moments of kindness.
I had to cut part 1 of this blog short because of pressing family commitments. I am slowly catching up now, but more happenings have occured, giving me more moments on which to reflect and to continue the theme of the first 2 paragraphs of part 1.
I shall update you later this week, when hopefully some sort of normallity will have returned to my life..
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