Benefiting from the bees in our backyard

By John Beavan, Chief Bee Keeper at Paradise Birmingham

Today at Paradise, we’re celebrating World Bee Day, a global United Nations initiative that aims to highlight the importance of our furry flying friends to life on planet Earth.

Bees play a crucial role in pollinating the world’s plant species, which is essential for the survival of all ecosystems. However, this process is threatened by human activity and habitat loss.

Here at Paradise, we’re doing our bit by establishing a colony of honeybees. Following a successful first year, we added another 160,000 bees last summer, bringing the total to over 300,000.

It’s a great addition to the city centre’s biodiversity, encouraging Paradise occupiers and visitors to engage with and benefit from the bee colony on their doorstep. Our hives produce a delicious and nutritious honey which provides a healthy, natural source of essential sugars, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals.

As part of our dedication to supporting the bees and their honey production, we are currently compiling a recipe book filled with fantastic dishes, beverages and other creative ways to incorporate honey into a balanced diet. This morning we delivered ‘bee boxes’ to occupiers across the estate, launching our hunt for the most mouthwatering recipes to include.

So the next time you’re in and around the estate, keep an eye out for our tiny insect buddies as they busily bring the buzz – and the honey – to Paradise.