Bees in the city – benefits and sustainable beekeeping
There are many benefits of breeding bees in cities, while the green surroundings of the UniLodz Library are an ideal place for beehives. The vicinity of the Jan Matejko Park and the surrounding squares of the university campus is particularly important in this case.
Why are urban apiaries so important for the ecosystem?
Urban apiaries support the processes related to maintaining green spaces in urbanized cities, and thus increase the chance that a flower or tree will bloom. Another element is a greater chance for the survival of bee families, because outside the city, numerous farms focus on growing monocultures, which results in less food for bees during the season. Cities are a friendly place for sustainable beekeeping
– says Artem Luhovyi, who is a student of the second year in the MA Spatial Management programme at the Faculty of Economics and Sociology of the University of Lodz, a keeper of an apiary (5 beehives) and an apitherapy house at the same faculty, a member of the Lodz Apiarist Association.
Beehives can contribute to dissemination of knowledge about bees and beekeeping among the academic community and the inhabitants of Lodz. Thanks to the Beeblioteka, it is possible to raise awareness of how important these insects are for humans and their health.
Tasty and healthy – valuable honey for patients
Honey obtained from the apiary on the roof of the University of Lodz Library has already been delivered to cancer patients at the Copernicus Memorial Hospital in Lodz twice. Honey, successfully used in natural medicine for centuries, is an adjunct in the treatment of cancer. Scientific studies show that honey supports oncological treatment of head and neck cancer patients thanks to its shielding effect on the oral mucosa, which counts during radiation treatment. Furthermore, honey can be used in the post-operative treatment of cancer wounds and in the treatment of cancerous ulcers.
It should be noted that honey obtained from urban bees is in no way inferior to that produced by bees from rural apiaries, and sometimes even exceeds it in quality. This is due to the longer flowering season of shrubs and the greater diversity of plants in cities.
As Artem Luhovyi adds:
Urban apiaries, thanks to their location, are first of all a good place for education and conducting workshops on biodiversity, pollinating insects and ecosystem services.
Source: University of Lodz Library
Photos: Maciej Andrzejewski, Communications and PR Centre, University of Lodz