downsmail.co.uk
Yellow spots before your eyes could be bee poo
A COATING of yellow marks on cars and washing lines has been mystifying residents in Bearsted. Andwhile some say the offending
spots before their eyes are pollen, others firmly believe it’s bee poo! The British Beekeepers’ Associa-
tion told the Downs Mail this week that the spots could be aerial dis- patches from bees and other insects. Ian Homer, a beekeeper for nearly
40 years, said: “With the late crops and thewarmweather, bees are very active collecting nectar and pollen at this time of year. They feed on carbs and protein – nectar and pollen – but the pollen has a very hard outer case, and it’s this fibre provider that they excrete while they work.” The sightings were reported on Bearsted’s Streetlifewebsite. Oneof thosewhoposted the news
was Susan, from Bearsted Green, who thought it wasn’t bee poo, be- cause “the stainswere eating into the paintwork of some cars”. She re- ported the spots to Maidstone Coun- cil’s environmental health team. She said: “My neighbours and I
are experiencing small yellow de- posits on car windows, washing
Ian Homer (above) says the yellowdeposits aremore com- mon when bees are busy collecting nectar
plus anything else outside. It seems to occur every year andwe have no- ticed it particularly over the last 2/3 months.” MaureenNreplied: “I don’t think
its bee pollen but it’s probably bee poo.We have had some hot, sunny weather and the bees have been very active, so their metabolism is at its height. It means there is a very healthy bee colony [colonies] around you. That’s why it occurs at about the same time each year. On behalf
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of the bees ... sorry if it’s attacking car paintwork but they can’t help it!” The beekeepers’ association says
bee poo is no cause for concern. The natural by-product can be washed away without causing damage. A spokesman for Maidstone Council said: “It seems likely that this is bee poo. It’s a natural phe- nomenon and nothing we can do anything about.We certainly don’t have any plans to issue any ‘ASB-ee’ orders.”
News Burial ground
plan revealed AN OLD riding stables in Detling could become a natural burial ground.
Maidstone Council will consider
an application to change the use of the brick buildings, off Hockers Lane, into offices and a chapel. Estate agent Sibley Pares, which
has been marketing the land and buildings for £250,000 since the be- ginning of the year, said the 12-acre site to the south of the village is under offer. Aplanning application by Tender
Touch Funeral Services includes an extension to the stable barn and a dormer to the hay loft, aswell as re- establishing ponds and a stream in the grounds, which lie in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A car park for 15 vehicles would also be created. Paul Hopper is behind the family-
run funeral business, which has premises in Gravesend, Rochester, Erith, Plumstead and Oprington. Ian and Rosemary Ferguson, who
live near the site, say they are con- cerned about the increase in traffic it will generate and the proximity of the car park to their home. They also believe parking will be inadequate. Detling Parish Council will con-
sider the application at its meeting at the village hall from 7pm on Tues- day, September 6.
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