The quiet return of urban beekeeping

AOver the past two decades, beehives have appeared on rooftops, office balconies and allotments in cities across the world. What was once regarded as a strictly rural pursuit has become, for many city dwellers, a hobby that connects them with the natural world without leaving the urban environment. Some municipal governments now actively encourage the practice, offering subsidised training courses for beginners.

BSupporters argue that cities can be surprisingly good places for bees. Parks, gardens and tree-lined streets often contain a wider variety of flowering plants than farmland dominated by a single crop, and urban areas tend to use fewer agricultural pesticides. In several studies, honey produced in cities has been found to come from a more diverse range of plant sources than honey from the surrounding countryside.

CHowever, ecologists have begun to raise concerns. Honeybees are only one of hundreds of bee species, and most wild bees live alone rather than in colonies. When large numbers of hives are placed in a small area, honeybees may compete with these wild species for nectar and pollen. Researchers in one European capital reported that as hive numbers rose, the number of wild bees visiting certain plants declined, although they cautioned that other factors could also explain the change.

DAs a result, some experts suggest that cities should focus less on adding hives and more on planting. Increasing the quantity of flowering plants, particularly native species that bloom at different times of year, benefits both managed and wild bees. A few cities have introduced guidelines limiting the density of hives in particular districts, while others require new beekeepers to register their colonies so that numbers can be monitored.