A beekeeper has been left heartbroken after a suspected arson attack obliterated approximately 200,000 bees and wrecked equipment worth thousands of pounds.
Known as the Birstall Bee Man, Andrew Dart found the charred remains of his apiary after a fire on Wednesday, 29 July.
The 63-year-old lost several hives, around £2,500 of beekeeping equipment and an entire season’s honey harvest, worth about £1,000.
A neighbour spotted smoke rising from the site during the afternoon and alerted the fire brigade.
But Andrew from Birstall, West Yorkshire, said it was the loss of the bees, rather than the financial cost, that devastated him most.
The following day, he said: “Today we’re absolutely heartbroken and incredibly angry. Someone has deliberately set fire to the land where some of our hives are kept.
“While the financial impact is devastating, the thing that has upset us the most is the welfare of our bees.
“These aren’t just hives to us, they are living colonies that we’ve spent years caring for. The thought of what they’ve been through is something is devastating.”
Andrew estimates none of the bees escaped.
He explained they remain with their queen, while melting wax would have coated their wings, preventing them from flying to safety.
Following calls from supporters, Andrew launched a GoFundMe campaign to help replace the destroyed equipment.
He said: “I did not want to do the GoFundMe.
“I’m just a bloke that keeps bees.”
The appeal originally aimed to raise £2,500 but quickly exceeded its target.
Concerned it might appear “greedy”, Andrew temporarily paused donations before reopening the page after people from across the country urged him to continue.
By Monday (3 August), the fundraiser had topped £13,700.
He said: “It’s gone crazy, it’s exploded.”
Andrew thanked everyone who had donated, giving special mention to Haggarts Butchers and Birstall Primary School for their support.
The fundraiser was due to close at 6pm on Monday (3 August).
Any money raised above the rebuilding costs will be donated to the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, bee charities and local community projects.
On the fundraising page, Andrew said: “Following the suggestions from our community, we have set up a GoFundMe and are asking for help after a fire was set, destroying the land where some of our hives are kept, causing significant damage to the apiary and destroying thousands of pounds worth of essential beekeeping equipment.
“While the loss of equipment is incredibly difficult, the biggest heartbreak has been the impact on our bees.
“Anyone who knows us knows that our bees are never ‘just bees.’
“They are living colonies that we have spent years caring for, protecting and nurturing.
“Their welfare has always been our priority, and seeing them affected by something so upsetting has been incredibly difficult.
“We’ve dedicated years to looking after the colonies and producing local honey.
“This isn’t just about replacing lost equipment; it’s about rebuilding what has taken years to create and giving our bees the best possible chance to recover.
“The damage caused by the fire will also have a significant impact on next year’s honey harvest, meaning we will have a much smaller supply while we work to recover and rebuild.”
