Honey Bees Are Welcomed At Caerphilly Council’s Headquarters

Honey bees have taken up residence at Caerphilly County Borough Council’s headquarters, Penallta House. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Caerphilly County Borough Council are working with the Sirhowy Valley Honeybee Company to help increase the bee population in the county borough in order to help fight the impact climate change is having upon them. As a part of this, 80,000 honey bees will call the grounds around Penallta House their new home. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The two new beehives have been installed in the far corner of the grounds in order for the bees to access the trees and foliage nearby. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is hoped that as well as increasing their population within the area, the honey bees will also improve the grounds through pollinating the resident plants. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Honey bees account for 80% of all pollination by insects, but unfortunately pollinators have been in decline for the past 30 years and will continue to do so unless action is taken. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development said: “Honey bees account for 80% of all insect pollination, but have sadly been in decline over a number of years. As a local authority we have undertaken various projects to help increase the number of pollinators and raise awareness of their importance. I hope that we continue to do this and I look forward to seeing the honey bees at work around Penallta House”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This project forms part of Caerphilly County Borough Council’s work around the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act which came into force in April. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​