| Yes indeed, honey is cropped in Paris! By Coline Duvall |
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![]() Honey in Paris Further to large spreads of insect and grass killers, meadows and harvest plants disappearing, the bees that gather pollen and nectar from our rural spaces, have gradually declined in the rural scene. Chased from our countries the bees have, over the years, accommodated to the urban environment. Bees are producing less and less honey. Since 1995 and each year around 30% of these bee populations are disappearing in France. That is why they must be renewed by the beekeepers. Due to the rise of temperature in large cities, lighter sanitary plant treatments than in the countries, the honey bees today accommodate better in the cities. Flowering of plants are there more regular and let the bees gather pollen and nectar more intensively and on a larger variety of flowers. Today, the oldest bee-hive to be found in Paris is the one set on the grounds of the Luxembourg gardens. It was built in 1872. One can find about 300 bee-hives in Paris itself. They are located in the 15th area in the Georges Brassens park, in the 19th area on the « Parc de la Villette grounds, in the 13th in the Kellerman gardens and still in the 13th area, on the Convent of the Augustine Sisters grounds. The most incongruous location is no doubt the roof of Palais Garnier (the Opera House) where eight bee-hives shelter 450.000 bees that gather pollen and nectar within an area of 3 kilometers. According to specialists, the bees are producing very well and express a reassuring vitality. One must add that in order to produce 10 kg of honey these bees must travel the equivalent of 4 million times. Apparently, in 2006 the production shows «a sweet honey with a slight blackberry touch». It is due to the Sophora trees from China that are planted along some avenues in Paris, the ones that one calls honey trees. To follow the Paris example, it is planned next spring to put up new bee-hives in 18 different parks of the Hauts-de-Seine area. As a matter of fact this suburban area has stopped using chemic fertilizers on their lawns and has altogether stopped using chemic grass killers replaced by a more natural grass killer such as hot water. That way, the beekeepers will be able to sell the bee production that, in order to select more carefully flower varieties, will also be regularly checked and analyzed to the best of honey lovers. |

