The Return of Urban Beekeeping

Over the past two decades, keeping bees on city rooftops has moved from a curious hobby to a recognised part of urban life. Cities such as London, Paris and Toronto now host thousands of hives. Supporters argue that urban areas offer bees a surprisingly varied diet: parks, gardens and street trees flower at different times, so food is available from early spring until late autumn. By contrast, large areas of intensive farmland may offer only a single crop that blooms for a few weeks.

However, the trend has its critics. Some ecologists warn that honeybees, which are managed by people, compete with wild pollinators such as bumblebees and solitary bees for the same flowers. In areas where hives are very dense, researchers have recorded fewer wild bees visiting the same plants. As a result, several city councils now ask beekeepers to register their hives and have suggested limits on numbers in small areas.

Honey from city hives is also popular. Because the bees travel up to three kilometres from the hive, the honey often tastes of the mix of plants in a single neighbourhood. Laboratory tests in several cities have found that this honey is generally safe to eat, with levels of heavy metals well below legal limits.