A COLLECTION of bees living happily in the Meadows in Tavistock have been re-located to a quieter area in Okehampton, thanks to a rescue operation involving the town council's works department.

Members of the council's properties committee were last week told that the feral colony of honey bees had been discovered living in a large Scots Pine in the Meadows last Summer.

Works superintendent Wayne Southall, in a report to members, said the tree was due to be removed because of extensive decay — the bees had been found during an inspection of the tree.

Mr Southall said: 'It was decided to delay the dismantling of this tree to try and save the bees.

'The works department contacted the British Bee Keepers' Association for advice, and they gave us the details of a local beekeeper.

'It was decided that the only way the bees could be removed was to block up the entry and exit points and cut the section of the tree away.

'The bees were taken to the top of Plymouth Road Cemetary, still in their hive within the tree.'

Mr Southall said the tree limb was trimmed back a few weeks later, and the smaller log was put into the back of the beekeeper's car, with the hive still intact.

'The bees are now living near Okehampton and will be transferred to a man-made hive in the spring.

'The works department have been promised the first jar of honey from that colony,' said Mr Southall.