Volunteers have been left devastated after vandals targeted beehives at a popular Ashton playing field, destroying hours of work and putting its honey bee colonies at risk.
The hives at King George V Playing Fields were damaged sometime between 5.30pm on Saturday, September 5 and 8.30am on Sunday, September 6.
They form part of an apiary established by the Friends of King George V Playing Fields (FoKGVPF), with volunteers caring for the bees and producing honey which is sold to raise funds through the site’s Georgie Porgies café.
The group said beekeeper Chris Place and the volunteer bee team were devastated when they discovered the damage after spending many hours tending to the colonies.
While honey bees already face threats from invasive Asian hornets, which prey on bees and can devastate colonies, volunteers say this time the threat came from people deliberately targeting the hives.
FoKGVPF was established by Alan Fish in 2010 as a community group dedicated to improving and promoting the playing fields for the different communities living around them.
Georgie Porgies café followed in 2012 as a way of generating funds to support the site, with the apiary later established and its honey sold through the café.
The group is now appealing for anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity around the hives during the weekend to come forward.
Anyone with information can contact beekeeper Chris Place at c.place@me.com or on 07771 540978.
The Friends are also looking for people interested in volunteering at the playing fields or Georgie Porgies café. Anyone wanting to get involved can contact chairman Alan Fish at chairman@fokgvpf.co.uk or on 07931 765120.