NOT JUST HIVES BEING DESTROYED BUT ROUTE TO MANKIND'S FOOD CHAIN, ANGERED FORUM MEMBERS ARGUE

ATHERSTONE apiarist Artur Niewiarowski has warned "wanton" actions of vandals who twice destroyed his hives killing thousands of bees could pose a greater risk to mankind than the coronavirus pandemic.

The two attacks in as many weeks forced the 38-year-old enthusiast to relocate some of his 60 hives across four farms in and around the town.

The married father-of-two, who swopped a decade-long love of metal detecting for bee-keeping after watching a documentary on television, has been "personally hurt" by the incidents.

Whoever struck at the heart of his hobby didn't just cause hundreds of pounds damage, kill "innocent" bees and put themselves in danger, if replicated, the vandalism would place society in trouble too, he believes.

The TNT warehouse operative, who left his native Poland 16 years ago to start a new life in Atherstone, told Nub News: "It's a bad thing to do this.

"But far worse is that if you destroy all the bees, then humanity has just three years to live.

"It risks bringing about the end of civilisation."

The vandalism has brought a tidal of wave sympathy for Mr Niewiarowski from locals.

Atherstone People's Forum has literally been buzzing with indignation over the attacks –agreeing with the sentiments the vital role bees play in our cycle of life among its 500 comments on the subject.

Kathryn Cook blasted: "This has made me feel.so angry" while Julie Green added: "That's so awful. My husband keeps bees and he would be devastated if these were his hives."

Brenda Hudspith commented: "Do they not realise we need bees to survive ... they wouldn't have food if we didn't have bees?"