Honey is the new hobby creating a buzz in Britain’s towns and cities
The Beehaus, aimed at the hobby beekeeper, costs £495 including full bee suit. Honeybees cost extra at £80 to £150 a colony. Photograph: Graham Turne
A new craze has been sweeping Britain’s roof-tops as part of the Government’s conservation agency’s strategy to reverse the decline in honeybees. Natural England have introduced the Beehaus, a plastic structure designed by Omlet as a new must-have urban innovation. Our urban roof-tops are considered ideal places to host healthy hives and New England is hoping to attract thousands of urbanites to the art of beekeeping.
The Beehaus has an easily removed lid that allows the whole hive to be exposed for inspection and maintenance. It is twice the size of a traditional hive, meaning that there is plenty of space for the colony to grow and therefore less risk of swarming. The plastic structure is easily cleaned and impervious to woodpeckers, which frequently damage wooden hives. Three layers of plastic, separated by air pockets, help the bees to maintain the stable 35C (95F) they need to multiply.
Urban bees and home grown honey are a rising trend with increased public membership to the British Beekeepers’ Association, by 3,000 to 14,500 in the last 18 months. New urban rooftop hives include Fortnum & Mason who plan to sell honey from their rooftop hives in Piccadilly, London; and from next month the Royal Lancaster Hotel, near Hyde Park, will serve home-spun honey to their guests.
Filed under: People, Sustainable products
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