THOUSANDS of honeybees have been saved after an ancient oak crashed to the ground.
The 200-year-old tree uprooted and toppled over in a park in Scriven, near Knaresborough – and revealed a nest of more than 6,000 honeybees.
If left unchecked, the bees would not have survived, so Chris McDevitt, of the Harrogate and Ripon Beekeepers’ Association, was called in.
He “smoked” the bees to make them docile and they are now living in a new hive in his apiary.
It is not known why the tree came down, although the most likely cause is thought to be underground root decay.
After some safety work, the tree will be left in situ for use by local wildlife.
Harrogate Borough Council’s arboricultural manager Paul Casey said: “If we allow the bulk of the tree to slowly decay over time on site, it will remain immensely ecologically valuable for years to come.”
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