Fears for Buckland Abbey bees after vandal attack

The Devon Beekeepers Association were called in to help rescue the bees

Tens of thousands of bees could have been lost after hives were vandalised at a National Trust property.

Ten hives, seven of them occupied, were knocked over and other equipment damaged at Buckland Abbey in Devon on Saturday.

The Devon Beekeepers Association were called in to help rescue the bees.

Bees have been kept at the abbey, former home of Sir Francis Drake, for hundreds of years, the association said.

Bees 'vital'

Bees have been kept at Buckland Abbey, former home of Sir Francis Drake, since 2010

Each hive could have more than 5,000 bees in the winter.

Beekeeper David Milford said: "This is a stupid act of vandalism and, although I keep bees of a generally quiet temperament, I hope the perpetrators got stung as many times as I did putting them all back together again.

"I would just like to meet these people to explain to them what the damage they have caused and what bees do for us as human beings.

"It is vital that we keep honey bees going for pollination of plants."