Sting operation as landlord turns part-time beekeeper

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Communities, Local Government

Walsall-based social landlord, whg, has turned part-time beekeeper in a move to support wildlife across the area.

A queen bee and her colony has been carefully moved into a hive on the eco-friendly ‘living’ roof of whg’s new town centre office at 100 Hatherton Street.

The hive joins a number of bird boxes already providing a habitat for winged visitors to the 75ft high mossed roof.

Amateur beekeeper Andy Blount (pictured), a Gas Quality Control Officer at 19,000-home whg, hit upon the idea after colleagues moved into the office this spring. He has moved one of his six hives and a swarm of honey bees into the lofty habitat.

The move has seen Andy handed an internal award for outstanding and hard-working colleagues.

Andy said: “I’m proud to win this award but really this is all about supporting wildlife and helping to make Walsall a great place to live.

“The office is close to Walsall Arboretum and lots of people’s gardens, so it is a good place for the bees to forage – and that has benefits in terms of pollinating flowers in the area, making gardens and allotments more attractive and productive.”

Andy, a member of South Staffordshire Beekeepers’ Association, took up beekeeping four years ago, setting up a hive on his allotment to help with pollination of his fruit before establishing another hive in his garden. As well as now maintaining a total of six hives, he responsibly collects swarms of bees that are reported by the public in the local area.

He added: “In a good year, I can collect up to 60lbs of honey from one hive. So, once the Hatherton Street colony is established in a year or so, it will be interesting to see how much honey the bees produce.”