Maple, acacia and linden give Bratislava’s rooftop harvest its distinctive flavour.
Around 180,000 to 200,000 bees are living in six hives on the roof of VÚB bank’s headquarters on Mlynské Nivy in Bratislava. The first batch of honey from the hives was extracted in July.
The mixed blossom honey contains nectar collected mainly from maple, acacia and linden trees, as well as other plants growing across the city. It will now undergo laboratory testing to assess its quality and composition.
“This has been a very good year for honey, although there were periods of severe drought when we did not know what to expect,” said registered beekeeper Viktor Wercholák of the Včelí dom company, who looks after the hives. “But the bees managed to make good use of the conditions.”
Although the centre of a large city may not appear to be an ideal habitat for bees, urban areas can provide them with favourable conditions. Bratislava’s parks, gardens, green courtyards and balconies offer a diverse range of plants that flower at different times.
