Two colonies of honeybees are buzzily settling into their newly installed hives at a biodiversity project at the Roaring Meg Retail and Leisure Park in Stevenage.
The hives have been installed in the brand-new ecosystem – a new environmental initiative in the grounds of the park which includes plants, flowers and borders designed to encourage wildlife.
The honey bees have been introduced by Stotfold bee specialists, Cardona & Son and will play their part in helping to maintain the conservation of the plant community and floral diversity.
They will be closely managed throughout the winter months and once honey is available it is hoped that it can be sold at various Roaring Meg food and drink outlets, with all proceeds being donated to a local wildlife charity.
Andre Cardona, owner of Cardona & Son, said: “Bees pollinate a third of everything we eat and perform a vital role in sustaining the planet’s eco-system. With forward thinking projects such as this we have a chance to educate our local community on the importance of bees and their habitat. We’re delighted to be working alongside Roaring Meg, their commitment to our local wildlife and environment is to be commended. We can’t wait to get started!”
The hives will also offer the opportunity to generate a buzz among the general public, with schools and local organisations invited to get involved with the project. The aim is it to share knowledge on the importance of helping to look after the vital insects as well as creating interest in the beehives.
Phil Huby of Aberdeen Asset Management which runs the park, said: “The arrival of the beehives signifies a further step in the park’s commitment to creating a more environmentally-friendly and attractive landscape for our shoppers and the local community to enjoy.
“It has been a pleasure working in collaboration with Andre at Cardona & Son who has brought his beekeeping knowledge and insight to our initiative. We are really looking forward to spring when the site will start coming to life.”
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