Utrecht in the Netherlands has come up with a smart way to protect the 358 species of bees that live in the country, turning bus stops into bee havens.
Utrecht, Netherlands – The Province of Utrecht in the Netherlands has taken a massive step forward to help protect the 358 species of bees that live in the country. Over half are endangered and on the Dutch Red List.
As a way to combat this decline in populations, the governing officials came up with an innovative approach to protect the bees.
They are converting 316 bus stops into bee havens. While the bus stops may look normal, on closer inspection, one will notice the rooftops are brimming with flowers. These flowers are bee favourites and dotted all over the city. Not only have the roofs become a haven, but they are also helping to support the pollinating populations
We are seeing more and more towns take active steps to provide food and comfort to bees, working hard to prevent any further decline in bee populations.
Utrecht is the fourth-largest city in the Netherlands and located in the central part of the country. By taking part in a project like this, they have made a great improvement to the city’s green spaces.
They planted succulents to support the city’s dwindling biodiversity of honeybees and bumblebees. The green rooftops also help to capture fine dust and store rainwater.
According to their website, and with the help of Google Translate, they have this to say about their innovative project:
“A green roof is good for a healthy and livable city … that can, therefore, cope better with climate problems. It helps to prevent flooding and ensures that we suffer less from heat,”
This concept could do well in South Africa. What do you think?
Photo Credit: Hans Dinkelberg / Instagram
Photo Credit: Evagladness / Instagram
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