Canal giving bees 'safe havens'

The land near canals can provide a safe area for bee populations

Bee hives are being put up on the Liverpool-to-Leeds canal on Merseyside to encourage residents to adopt them to boost declining numbers of the insect.

If successful British Waterways, the national organisation responsible for over 2,200 miles of canals and rivers, will roll out the project nationally.

More than 20 people have trained as beekeepers, as part of the project with the Arts for Places scheme.

A British Waterways spokesman said canals were "safe havens" for bees.

Bees are thought to bring about £200m to the UK economy each year as they pollinate many of the food crops grown here, such as apples and oilseed rape.

'Great potential'

In recent years they have been hit by agricultural changes, which have reduced the availability of the wildflowers that are so important in providing food for the insects, the organisation said.

Some of the residents are working with local beekeeper Margaret Murdin and artist Kerry Morrison to care for five beehives situated between Litherland and Eldonian Village in Liverpool.

Dr Mark Robinson, from British Waterways, said: "The UK's canals, rivers and reservoirs act as green corridors and safe havens for many species.

"Our honey bees are under threat and are in need of good habitat. By installing hives on the land adjoining our canals and rivers, British Waterways is providing a safe environment for bees to thrive."

Tim Lovett, president of British Beekeepers Association said it was "an imaginative initiative" with a "great potential for future growth and provision of all too rare apiary sites".

The Art for Places Project in Sefton aims to involve residents on a number of projects centred around the Leeds & Liverpool Canal ahead of a spectacular moveable artistic structure being built there.

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