THE SWARM OF BEES in a tree by Thurmaston Lock 46 on the Leicester Section is still causing problems.
It was on the 20th of July that the bees swarmed taking to the tree, Keith Gudgin reports.
Health and safety
The trust has been unable to discover anyone capable of handling them, telling the bees are still causing a health and safety issue for contractors to safely clear this tree.
The health and safety issue being that if they are not caught in a skip en-masse they will scatter and sting, being somewhat upset!
The tree has fallen and needs cutting back, but contractors are not happy at approaching!
As to the navigation, only narrowboats can pass and are asked to take care. Wide beams cannot pass owing to the branches of the tree reaching over the waterway.
Keen beekeeper
[My father was a keen beekeeper and I discovered it was quite easy to move a swarm, having done one myself. Easy of course, providing the person knows what they are doing. But the trust really should stop calling it a 'nest' of bees, they are not birds! It is a swarm!—Editor.]