As It Happens

Oslo buzzing with world's first bee highway

Norway's capital is putting out the welcome mat for bees. It's created a network of closely spaced gardens and rest spots to allow bees and other pollinators to make their way through the city.
(Bybi / cp images)

Bees in Oslo are hitting the highway. The pollinators are enjoying a network of gardens that allow them free passage throughout the city. There are even 'insect hotels' where they can rest along the way.

Members of the Oslo bee keepers collective inspect a hive. (Bybi / Facebook)

Anne Sofie Hansen is an urban beekeeper and a member of the collective Bybi, the group behind the bee highway.

She tells As It Happens guest host Susan Bonner: ​"We try to make people plant pollen rich flowers every 250 meters so even the small bees can find their way. 

"We are actually creating a green path through the city."

Bybi has published an online map that shows all the stops on the route. 

An 'insect hotel' similar to those that line the bee highway in Oslo, Norway. (Bybi / facebook)

The mini gardens vary from rooftop hives on modern office buildings to colourful flowers planted by children in school yards.

Hansen says the Oslo project is a small step toward helping bee populations recover from a massive decade-long population decline.

"I think we have to start somewhere. This is a man made problem and man can also make changes."

Bees entering the beehive of accounting expert and amateur beekeeper Marie Skjelbred on the 12th floor of a modern building in Oslo. (AFP/Getty Images)