Features
From AB To A Swarm
Having just had a visit from the Belgian Royal Family to celebrate its 35th anniversary, the next queen to appear at the Ancienne Belgique will likely be a bee. In fact, the famous concert venue in the heart of Brussels is expecting a swarm of them.
at Ancienne Belgique in Brussels.
Last week, hives were placed on the roof of the building and 80,000 bees are on their way to fill them.
“In doing so, we at AB want you to know how we are giving attention to the preservation of urban biodiversity,” a statement explains. As there is no “industrial” agricultural activity in urban areas, the bees can be less concerned about pesticides than in most rural environments. As a result, honey from the city is healthier than honey from the country and during the season the bees will receive a weekly visit from a professional beekeeper. Bees aren’t aggressive and usually thrive in large cities where they can fly longer because of the milder city climate.
Within a one-kilometer radius of inner-city Brussels there is a plentiful supply of sufficiently varied food: trees in the streets, parks and public gardens, flowers on window-sills, and in private gardens.
The honey produced by the AB’s bees will be on the menu at the venue’s AB Café & Resto.