Beekeeping Policy

1 Conditions

Any person keeping bees on a Norbury Park Horticultural Society (NPHS) allotment must be an allotmenteer and is bound by the Allotment Tenancy Agreement and the special rules for beekeeping below.

NPHS Committee reserves the right to review these conditions as required.

The Committee will give beekeepers notice before any changes to these conditions are made.

Beekeepers must take into consideration that allotments, are used by people who may know little of bees or beekeeping.

1.a An allotmenteer must obtain permission to keep bees on an NPHS allotment. The first point of contact for an enquiry is any committee member.

1.b Bees can only be kept on NPHS allotment site where specific approval has been given.

1.c Beekeepers must not use allotments as storage space for equipment that does not contain bees. No wax comb should be left exposed in an apiary; it must be stored in a bee proof way.

2 Beekeeper

The beekeeper must have current registration and membership of a beekeepers' society affiliated to the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA).

2.a The beekeeper must have a BBKA Basic Assessment certificate or must be mentored by a beekeeper who has already passed the basic assessment whilst working towards their own certification. The certificate or a letter of support must be presented to NPHS before permission to keep bees on the allotment can be given. See section 17 below.

2b If being mentored at the time of application, the beekeeper must pass their Bee Basic certification within 18 months of being permitted to keep bees on the allotment site.

3. Siting of Hives

Hives can only be situated on allotments approved for beekeeping.

3.a Hives must be a suitable distance from any public road or path, or jointly used road or path within the allotment site.

3.b The plot must have simple screening on all four sides, such as is used for windbreaks, of fine mesh netting, dust-screening, willow, hazel or maintained hedges of a minimum 2.0 metres height to encourage the bees to fly high over neighbouring plots and to protect the hive from wind.

3.c The number of hives on the site in total will be monitored and restricted to prevent over population of any one site. No more than 2 hives and 2 nucleus may be located on one designated plot.

3.d The number of hives on one plot may increase due to splitting in order to control swarming. This should be temporary if it makes more than two hives on the plot. Hives must be reduced to the permitted number by the end of summer at the latest.

4 The Bees

The beekeeper must ensure that gentle strains of bees are kept, and if the bees become aggressive or exhibit excessive "following" tendency, he or she will arrange to re-queen the colony (or remove the colony until its undesirable traits have been resolved).

4.a Management and manipulations must be timed, as far as possible, to minimise disturbance to other plot holders, and the beekeeper is encouraged to liaise with neighbouring plot holders about planned actions.

5 Consultation

NPHS will consult neighbouring allotmenteers before plots are designated for beekeeping.

6. Risk Assessment

There is a standard risk assessment for each site.

Beekeepers must sign that they have read this and alert the committee if anything further should be added (medical conditions, allergies etc.)

A risk assessment will include, but is not limited to:

• Bee swarm in public areas.
• Bee sting first aid advice.
• Accidental or intentional intrusion by animals or humans
• Arrangements in times of temporary absence by the plot holder (See section 8 below)
• Provision and use of protective equipment.
• Management of smokers - must be extinguished after use.
• Preventing overpopulation of bees
• Preventing disease
• Vandalism
• Highlight any other risks (please specify)

7 Duty of Care

The beekeeper owes a duty of care to:

• The public in the vicinity of the hives
• Other allotmenteers nearby
• Intruders (even though it is clear that their intention was to disturb the colony)

8 Stand-By Arrangements

8.a The beekeeper must provide NPHS with details (name, telephone number and mobile telephone number) of stand-by arrangements to deal with emergencies such as swarming during any absence or unavailability of the beekeeper.

8.b The back-up beekeeper must have passed the assessment and provide certificate evidence.

9 Notice On Display

A notice giving contact details of the Beekeeper and a back-up 24 hour contact in case of absence should be displayed clearly around the apiary for use by Beebase Inspectors, RSPCA or the emergency services.

The notice must state:

• Name of allotmenteer (Beekeeper)
• Phone number
• In case beekeeper is not available: name of the back-up keeper
• Phone number

The allotmenteer is solely responsible for the welfare of livestock at all times including when livestock is under the supervision of a back-up keeper.

10 Diseases

The beekeeper is required to register all hives with the National Bee Unit (NBU) 'Beebase'. Guidance is available from their website: http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/

The beekeeper is responsible for following the statutory guidelines and Bees Disease legislation in particular The Bees Act 1980.

10a The beekeeper must use an integrated pest management system to control Varroa and other pests and diseases.

11 Inspections

Hives shall be inspected weekly from April to July by the beekeeper in accordance with the BBKA guidelines and suitable records must be kept.

11a The bee keeper will cooperate fully and give NBU inspectors access to inspect hives if this is considered necessary.

11b The beekeeper will likewise cooperate fully with NPHS Committee and when requested, provide access for inspections to validate that apiary standards are being maintained.

12 Complaints

NPHS will investigate any complaints, in particular, those with health and nuisance elements.

If necessary, permission to keep bees can be withdrawn by the issue of 40 days' notice to remove the hives.

13 Insurance

The beekeeper is required to hold a current insurance policy which provides specifically for beekeeping risks.

13.a NPHS requires potential beekeepers to become members of the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) which will include insurance cover for public liability and disease insurance.

13.b Each year at plot renewal (1 October) the beekeeper must provide NPHS with a copy of their renewed proof of current membership with BBKA.

14 Sale of Honey or other produce from beekeeping.

The beekeeper will not display notices or use NPHS social media that honey or other products are available for sale on the allotment site or plot.

15 Extraction of Honey

No extraction of honey is permitted on site and must be done in a suitably sterile and hygienic environment, away from the allotment site.

15 Withdrawal of Consent

NPHS may withdraw the permission to keep bees at any time by giving 40 days' notice to remove hives if:

a. The permit holder contravenes any of the above rules.

b. The permit holder contravenes any rules within the Allotment Tenancy Agreement or any separate NPHS rules.

c. A new allotment tenant takes a nearby plot then provides medical evidence that they are allergic to honey bee stings.

However, NPHS would expect any new tenant to be made aware of the hives before they accept the tenancy of a plot. If necessary, an alternative allotment may be offered when available.

d. Any costs resulting from the withdrawal of consent shall be borne by the tenant.

17 Application Procedure

Potential beekeepers must consult the local beekeeping association to gain an understanding of beekeeping before starting the application process.

Prepare a site plan for their plot or designated apiary.

Provide a letter of support from local beekeeping association that they have passed the basic assessment or are working towards an assessment and have an assessed beekeeper to mentor them.

Norbury Park Horticultural Society, December 2025