Mystery has gripped an upscale golf resort in suburban Lincolnshire after someone sneaked onto the hotel's property and killed thousands of bees whose honey is sold in the hotel's gift shop.
Chef Pierre Daval of the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort found the cans of pesticide that he said he believes killed most of the bees in the apiary on the hotel's grounds. Most of the honeycomb frames that were once buzzing with bees are now empty, and the few bees that remain appear sluggish and sick.
"About two weeks ago, we harvested our honey and we discovered about five hives were dead," Daval said. "This morning I went and found another eight hives, so 13 hives are dead. So we lost a lot of honey in the process."
The hotel uses the honey in its farm-to-table cuisine, and it's one of the most popular items sold in the gift shop.
Kristin Duncan, the hotel's general manager, said there is no reason anyone would want to hurt the Italian honeybees, which are kept on a remote part of the hotel grounds.
"It came as a big surprise for us and is certainly unfortunate news, but we have no idea who would have done this or what their motivation might have been," Duncan said.
Lincolnshire police said they will keep a closer watch on the area, and hotel officials said they will make sure their bees aren't bothered by anyone else. They will have to wait till the spring before they restock the hives, however.
