A CITY shopping centre is set to become a hive of aerial activity after a new environmental initiative to champion the threatened honey bee.
A colony of 10,000 bees has taken up residence in the first of five hives to be installed in a rooftop garden above Princesshay Shopping Centre in Exeter.
A second is due later this month, and a third later in the year as part of a new biodiversity strategy championed and funded by landlord Land Securities.
And shoppers shouldn't worry about being stung – a full risk assessment has been carried out and the chances are extremely low.
The height of the rooftop hives and the skill of expert staff will ensure there is a minimal risk of stings.
Andrew Littlejohns, the centre's operations manager, was inspired by a television programme on the decline of the honey bee and the subsequent impact on the environment.
His idea was then given the blessing of the Exeter Bee Keepers Association and weekly training sessions began with bee keeping enthusiast Jason Wallis from WeeTree Nurseries.
Mr Littlejohns said: "We have contacted all our retailers and restaurants to invite them to take part in the training, and our plan is to have a core team of Princesshay bee keepers to manage and care for the project in the next year."
Specialist advice on bee-friendly plants and features was sought before creating the rooftop "paradise", made up of raised flower beds and an irrigation system to ensure the plants thrive.
Several tonnes of top soil were transported by hand via the service delivery lifts from the basement to the roof top before the garden was left to mature over the winter.
Jason Wallis from WeeTree Nurseries, who started keeping bees eight years ago to help with flower production at his nursery, said: "I applaud the team for their initiative and enthusiasm.
"The environment they have is fantastic, the first colony of bees has settled in well and we're ready now to help establish the second.
"The decline of the honey bee is a well-documented problem and projects like this all help to keep this important species part of the UK habitat."
