This means that Bees, along with a large number of other insects, ensure that plants are fertilised. Because insects fly from flower to flower in search of pollen and nectar, they can fertilise flowers, allowing the plant to start bearing fruit. This fruit in turn ensures the reproduction of the plant. Therefore, insects play an essential role in the reproductive cycle of many plants.

The number of bees is declining rapidly. Wild bees and solitary bees are struggling in a landscape with less and less flowers.

If you drive on the A13 towards Rotterdam, the Netherlands, you will see a tall wooden building from a distance, called the Melarium. It is a work of art and used as a centre for nature, bees and art. The building has shutters on the outside as underneath are where the beehives are. Local Beekeepers have a number of beehives inside the Melarium.

The building itself symbolises a bee. “You can see the head, chest and abdomen of the insect. You may also have noticed that it has a lot of small windows. They symbolise the bee’s eyes.” What’s also special is that it is made from sustainable Accoya wood and that the Melarium is completely self-sufficient. “Energy is generated by solar panels and there is a stove where wood from the forest is burned. The toilet is flushed with rainwater: we supply drinking water with jerrycans.”

Towns with a lot of rural areas have a unique opportunity to contribute here.

The effect of installing a beehive is much greater than just “the bees themselves and a little honey.” It can not only be an interesting object, but it is also about people being aware of the fact that a bee is very important for biodiversity and therefore also for our earth, they become interested in the profession but also how they can contribute, like; sow more plants and flowers and use fewer pesticides, etc.