Fundraising appeal after vandals destroy beehives

Volunteers at a community apiary in Bradford are raising funds for repairs and extra security after vandals broke in twice in a week, attacking the hives and the bee shed.

Intruders broke through the gates of the apiary in Wibsey Park, damaging the four beehives.

Organiser Martin Gledhill said they had lost a "few hundred, maybe 1,000 bees" after the attack due to low night-time temperatures.

"It was just an act of mindless vandalism that's not benefited anybody. And it's cost us financially to try to get the hives back in numbers," he said.

The apiary is run on grant funding by volunteers.

The bees are the primary pollinators for the park's community gardens and surrounding private gardens, and are used as an educational resource for local groups.

So far the group has raised £400 towards its target of £600.

"The people of Wibsey have rallied behind us," said Gledhill.

He added the damage harmed not only the bees but could also have harmed the perpetrators.

"For us to inspect a hive, we're doing it under controlled conditions, but to kick a hive over you're going to get an awful lot of bees released that are just not happy," he said.

"So the chances are if you spend too much time here, it's multiple stings, which can be dangerous for some people."

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