Meet Vienna’s City Hall Rooftop Bees

The Vienna City Hall is not only the center for politics but for bees as well. Since 2014, several beehives have been on the roof of the City Hall in the Austrian capital. They are placed for the active protection of bees in the city, and they find variety of food on the old trees in the park in front of the building. These bees

produce more than 180 kg of honey annually, which is then given to charity.

Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig said the city is committed to protecting bees

and supporting organic farming. “The hives on the city hall roof are a showcase project. Vienna has committed to preserving the amount of greenery in the city,” says Michael Ludwig.

This year the mayor has welcomed the City Hall beekeeper Alfred Hauska in his office and received from him a taste of the City Hall honey.

Large cities offer various habitats and food for bees. In parks, alleys and gardens, as well as flower pots, bees can collect nectar. Fifty percent of Vienna’s urban area is green, attracting up to 200 million bees in the summer.

More than 5,000 hives are spread across Vienna’s green areas, some of which are placed in very unusual places such as the main city cemetery or the roof of the “25 Hours” hotel.

Read also: https://vaaju.com/austriaeng/vienna-mayor-ludwig-honey-from-town-hall-bees-politics/