Morning:
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Italian bees creating a buzz on Fortnum's roof
Evening Standard21.07.08
Some 200,000 honey bees have taken up residence on the roof of Fortnum & Mason.
Based in four hives, the Italian carnaroli bees are known for being placid and should produce a rare, super-sweet honey. They will gather nectar from the exotic flora within a three-andhalf mile area of the Piccadilly store, including Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and Kensington Gardens, as well as pollen from chestnut and lime trees.
The white oak hives, each with a historically-themed arch, were designed by Fortnum & Mason sweet grocery buyer Jonathan Miller and are sited on the Jermyn Street side of the store. The bees have their own keeper, Steve Benbow, and are expected to produce 800 halfpound jars of honey each year.
Mr Miller said: "The honey will taste much richer than that from the country because the bees are feeding on such a rich diet."
Reader views (2)
There is no such thing as "Italian carnaroli bees". There is, however, Carniolan bee (Apis mellifera Carniola or Carnica) which is Slovenian and not Italian.
Italian bee is Apis mellifera ligustica and is not as good for urban beekeeping as Slovenian bee.
And as for "carnaroli" - as far as I know this is a type of rice.
- Diridonda Slavonica, Walthamstow, London
I certainly wouldn't want to eat honey made in central London. Think of all the pollution there.
- Mikko Takala, Drumnadrochit, Scotland
