Beekeeper claims generators stressing out hives

A Cockfield beekeeper claims generators sited in the village by Northern Powergrid are putting at risk two of her hives.

Dina Salenova says one of her hives has already swarmed because of noise and vibrations caused by a large generator outside her back garden.

Northern Powergrid has eight large generators in Cockfield while work is carried out on the overhead power lines.

“I learned this from the council, not Northern Powergrid.

“The bees are stressed. On May 20, World Bee Day, the small hive swarmed because they had had enough. I had to give them a honey frame to persuade them to stay.”

Although the generators are surrounded by noise reduction material, people complain it does little to dampen the noise and is keeping some awake at night because they operate 24 hours a day.

Along with the noise and vibrations, Dina also complains diesel fumes from the generators are threatening her bees.

The generators were installed on Wednesday, May 13.

The beekeeper said: “We haven’t received a letter telling us they were going to put them in. We don’t have any communication about when they are going to remove it.

“I complained to Northern Powergrid on May 18 and I haven’t heard from them except for an email saying we will look into it.”

“I complained to the council and the council worker was great. The environmental health practitioner was super-fast and she went to Northern Powergrid and asked them and they said they planned the work a long time in advance and they are going to remove them on June 5.”

She added that bees communicate by vibration and this was being disrupted by the hum of the generators.

Dina has also had to move from her bedroom at the back of the house to another room at the front.

She said: “As a human I can use earplugs or move bedroom, but the bees can’t. Bees are like children to me and no one likes children to suffer.”

A Northern Powergrid spokesman said: “To help keep power on for homes and businesses in Cockfield, we’ve temporarily installed generators while we carry out important upgrades over the coming weeks, including replacing around 30 poles and strengthening the network for the future.”