Milan’s Urban Beehives project has introduced 17 new bees colonies to new designer hives, bringing the city’s population of honeybees cultivated by the project to 1 million.

The bees were introduced to their new homes, a series of hives designed by international artists, in the Cascina Merlata Park on Earth Day.

The seven-year-old Urban Beehives project is aimed at educating the public about the importance of bees to the environment, while boosting their population and providing a sweet treat of honey. It is billed as the biggest urban bee collective in Europe. 

Urban Beehives creator and director of Green Island, Claudia Zanfi said the project aims to “create an intersection between artistic language and biodiversity”.

The art is in the form of hives and the biodiversity comes from the bees, which help pollinate plants in the city’s expanding green spaces.

Claudia Zanfi added: “Urban Beehives is a redevelopment project of urban green through the reintroduction of bees in the city. There always have been bees in the city, but creating a public space for them is what is new.

“The bees have a fundamental role for our lives, but also for the life of the planet.″

Green Island will offer courses and workshops at the park on beekeeping and the bees’ critical role in helping maintain a healthy planet.

Image Source: AP Photo/Luca Bruno

Rosa Medea is Life & Soul Magazine’s Chief. She writes about lifestyle including sustainable and green living.