Bratislava gets a pair of urban beehives

BRATISLAVA’S first two public beehives were set up on June 19, with the roof of the Stará Tržnica (Old Market Hall) and the Waterworks Community Garden chosen to accommodate the structures. The project was organised by the Centre for Environmental and Ethical Education, “Živica” (meaning Resin).

Beehives atop the Old Market Hall.Beehives atop the Old Market Hall. (Source: SITA)

BRATISLAVA’S first two public beehives were set up on June 19, with the roof of the Stará Tržnica (Old Market Hall) and the Waterworks Community Garden chosen to accommodate the structures. The project was organised by the Centre for Environmental and Ethical Education, “Živica” (meaning Resin).

“In collaboration with the ‘Cyklokuchyňa’ [Bike-Kitchen] association, we’re planning to extract urban honey using honey extractors connected to a bike,” Petra Ježeková of Živica told the TASR newswire. “There’ll even be a possibility to ‘adopt’ the beehives and thereby help spread public beehives to other Slovak cities and towns.” She added that bees illustrate the quality of urban green, and the amount of honey produced will depend on the offer of blooming plants within a five-kilometre radius, as well as on the weather.

The organisers are curious as to whether the bees will be able to make enough honey at least for themselves, or make more, or whether it will even be necessary to feed them.

Živica wants to add two additional beehives in the same place. Collaborating with Greenpeace Slovensko, they are planning the Adopt a Beehive project, which encourages individuals and companies to support the construction of beehives and care for them. They are going to fix beehives with local bee-keepers and non-governmental organisations in five Slovak cities.

“Bees are peaceful insects and don’t attack people for no reason,” Ježeková said. “They may, however, swarm to protect their beehives when facing intruders, especially if the intruders misbehave. With that in mind, the beehives won’t normally be accessible to the public, but upon agreement may be used for school excursions and educational activities – but always under the supervision of a trained beekeeper and

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