By Luci Peggy Smith

As cities grow and green spaces shrink, biodiversity often suffers, but in Glasgow, an unlikely trend is helping pollinators thrive. This trend is urban beekeeping. Over the past few years, beehives have popped up across the city’s rooftops, parks, and even university grounds, making Glasgow one of the leaders in urban beekeeping in Scotland. This movement not only supports local biodiversity but also encourages Glaswegians to rethink how they interact with nature in their backyards. Let’s dive into this fascinating world of rooftop beekeeping and explore why bees are so crucial to Glasgow’s green future.

Bees are essential pollinators, responsible for about a third of the food we eat. However, with habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change affecting bee populations worldwide, urban areas are emerging as unexpected sanctuaries. In cities like Glasgow, with its patchwork of gardens, parks, and allotments, bees can find diverse nectar sources that aren’t as readily available in industrial farmland.

Urban beekeeping is also about education and community. Organisations like PlanBee and the Glasgow Beekeepers Association are on a mission to show urbanites just how vital bees are. They offer workshops, hive tours, and training programmes to help locals understand the ecological importance of bees and inspire them to get involved—whether by keeping their hives or planting bee-friendly flowers in their gardens.

Some of the most surprising beehives in Glasgow are located on rooftops. From the top of Glasgow Science Centre to the flat roofs of high-rise offices in the city center, these hidden hives are carefully managed to ensure the safety of the bees and nearby residents. The Science Centre, for instance, uses its rooftop hives as an educational tool, inviting visitors to learn about bees and their role in sustaining biodiversity. Hives on urban rooftops are kept out of harm’s way and provide bees with an elevated, low traffic environment that lets them flourish.

Another notable project is the Rooftop Garden Project at the University of Strathclyde. The university’s green rooftop, which includes both gardens and beehives, is a prime example of how urban spaces can be creatively transformed to support wildlife. Managed by student volunteers and eco-groups, the garden provides a habitat for pollinators while serving as a hands-on sustainability learning experience for students.

One surprising perk of Glasgow’s beekeeping boom is the production of local, small-batch honey. Urban honey has a distinct flavor profile, often reflecting the diverse flora that city bees visit. The Good Spirits Co., a local shop, has partnered with urban beekeepers to sell Glasgow honey alongside their craft spirits, creating a unique offering that lets customers taste the city’s flora.

These local honey ventures are also creating small revenue streams to support more hives and community projects. For instance, Plan Bee produces honey that’s sold at farmer’s markets and reinvests the proceeds into expanding its hives and conducting more workshops. Supporting local honey producers not only benefits the local economy but also raises awareness of the important work these urban beekeepers do.

While not everyone can install a beehive on their rooftop, there are simple ways for Glasgow residents to help their city’s pollinators. Planting bee-friendly flowers like lavender, crocus, and wild marigolds in window boxes or garden beds provides nectar-rich food sources. Many community gardens in Glasgow also welcome volunteers to help plant and maintain pollinator habitats, creating vibrant green spaces across the city.

With Glasgow’s commitment to becoming a greener city, the future of urban beekeeping looks bright. This blend of community-led conservation and local honey production shows how urban spaces can be creatively transformed to support biodiversity, bridging the gap between city living and nature. By supporting pollinators in unexpected places, Glasgow is building a greener, more sustainable city—one rooftop at a time.

Buzzing in the City: How Urban Beekeeping is Transforming Glasgow’s Rooftops