Bee & Pest Control Policies

Harwich Town Council Bee Policy

Adopted by the Allotments Committee on 17th April 2013 and amended on 27th March 2017

  1. No bee hives/boxes to be placed on plots without the express written permission of Harwich Town Council.
  2. All applications to be in writing and will be considered on an individual basis and subject to individual conditions.
  3. Tenants must accept full responsibility in writing for the hive/box and, in the case of a hive, either the tenant or the beekeeper must produce valid insurance and evidence they are suitably qualified to take care of a hive.  In the case of box, should a swarm occur, the tenant is responsible for ensuring that the bees are removed by a suitably qualified bee keeper at the tenant’s expense.
  4. The tenant/beekeeper is to remove the hive/box immediately if requested to do so by Harwich Town Council and, if circumstances dictate, without notice.

Harwich Town Council Pest Control Policy

Pest control on allotment sites is the responsibility of plot holders, not Harwich Town Council. However, the council require a plot holder to report all infestations.

Tenants are asked to support allotment practices that do not encourage vermin.

Harwich Town Council does not resolve rat and mice infestation problems. As with any land there will always be rats and mice present on allotment sites.

Harwich Town Council recommend that you contact a local pest control company and arrange for a professional to deal with any infestation. Poisoned bait placed in the open is not acceptable as this may harm other wildlife.

From time to time wild bees and wasps build nests on allotments. The council does not provide a service to dispose of these for plot holders (unless they are located on communal areas). Harwich Town Council recommend that you contact a local pest control company and arrange for a professional to deal with the nest.

Bees are not classified as pests as they are important in the pollination of fruit and flowers. They should not be destroyed without specific written permission from Harwich Town Council.

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