Bees in the city

Learning more about urban environments

A group of beekeepers and flying bees next to the hives

As part of Cosa’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, we recently attended an engaging workshop at Wabe3, a unique apiary dedicated to promoting biodiversity in urban areas. Through their workshops, they aim to create awareness about the significance of bees in our ecosystem and the fascinating world of beekeeping.

Rooftop sanctuaries

Bees are among the most efficient pollinators. By transferring pollen from one flower to another, they help plants produce fruit, but the number of these little helpers is declining. The Cosa team went to visit a local beekeeper to find out more about honey bees and what we can do to help.

Around the corner from our office is one of 12 flat roofs in Zurich where Anna and her husband Tom have their honey bees. At first, you might think that keeping bees here doesn’t sound like a good idea but looking at the large variety of flowering plants around us, it all makes sense.

Hives of activity

The bee whisperers currently take care of around 100 bee colonies all over the city, and they are passionate about their work and sharing their knowledge. After a short introduction, we put on protective clothing and visit the man-made bee hives. Each hive is home to 25,000 to 35,000 bees, and once Anna opens the first layer, they are everywhere – not just in the hive but also in the air.

We wanted to pay the queen bee our respects for producing such a large number of bees but she is nowhere to be found. The more we hear about honey bees, the more we want to know. Flight of the drones, workers becoming guards, the queen’s departure, shiver heating and the magic potion Royal Jelly might sound like chapter titles from a fantasy book but they’re part of real life for bees.

Problems and solutions

After the fun and fascinating facts, we are also confronted with the problems honey bees and wild bees face. One of the biggest issues is the pesticides that are used in agriculture. They damage the bees’ nervous system and their sense of orientation. In addition the large fields, with a small variety of plants that flower for a short time do not offer enough food.

a group and one person is handed a frame full of bees

We can help by planting native bee-friendly plants that flower at different times of the year in our gardens or balconies. Insect hotels are fun to build and offer a safe place for the development of wild bee offspring.

This innovative beekeeping company, Wabe3, is contributing to the diversity of nature in urban areas and also bringing the fascination of beekeeping to the public and raising awareness for the bees. We really enjoyed our visit and have a new understanding of the importance of insects like bees in our environment.