Our Position on Honeybees in Urban Areas

Enhancing green spaces in London where all natural pollinators can thrive, and their habitats can be enjoyed by all.

Our Position on Honeybees in Urban Areas

Why PLT Focuses on Native Pollinators, Not Honeybee Promotion

At Pollinating London Together, we support a diverse, thriving ecosystem of wild, native pollinators across the UK’s cities. While honeybees are often seen as a symbol of environmental action, they are not at risk of extinction — and in urban areas, an excess of managed honeybee hives can unintentionally cause harm to the species that genuinely need our help.

Honeybees Are Not Endangered

Honeybees are a managed species, comparable in this respect to livestock. As a species, honeybee populations are maintained by beekeeping and are not facing the same existential pressures as wild pollinators. By contrast, many wild pollinator species — including numerous bumblebee species, the majority of our 250 solitary bee species, hoverflies, butterflies and moths — are under serious and well-documented pressure.

Too Many Honeybees in Cities Can Damage Biodiversity

Research indicates that high densities of managed honeybee hives in urban areas can compete with native bees for nectar and pollen, reduce food availability for more vulnerable species, and potentially increase disease pressure on wild bee populations. Honeybees are highly efficient foragers and can dominate floral resources in areas where those resources are limited — which is precisely the situation in many UK cities.

The evidence for disease spillover from managed hives to wild bees — including deformed wing virus and Nosema — is growing, though the extent of this effect in specifically urban settings is an active area of research. PLT supports a precautionary approach: where floral resources are limited, additional hives should not be added.

Our Role: Promote Biodiversity, Not Just Honeybees

PLT’s mission is to support all pollinators. This means:

Increasing diverse, seasonal planting
Improving habitat connectivity across London
Supporting solitary bees and bumblebees through targeted habitat creation
Encouraging nesting and foraging opportunities for wild species
Educating communities on evidence-based, sustainable action

What We Recommend Instead of Urban Hives

For anyone wanting to make a genuine positive difference for pollinators in an urban setting:

Plant more pollinator-friendly flowers, prioritising native species and year-round flowering
Create nesting habitats for solitary bees and bumblebees
Reduce pesticide use, including herbicides
Protect and enhance green corridors
Support community planting and habitat projects
Improve the diversity and management of urban green spaces

We're Not Anti-Honeybee — We're Pro-Biodiversity

Honeybees play an important role in agricultural pollination and in rural ecosystems. In the right context, beekeeping is a valued and valuable practice. But in cities, where floral resources are limited and fragmented, adding more managed hives does not help the species most in need. Healthy cities need wild pollinators — and PLT is committed to their protection and recovery.