Nature reserve in the marsh of Villers/Blonville
Parc du Marais de Villers sur Mer
Located between Villers-sur-mer and Blonville-sur-mer, the 110-hectare marsh is made up of wet meadows, canals and ditches and is of great ecological value. Despite its proximity to the sea, it is a freshwater marsh fed by runoff from four natural catchment areas on the surrounding hillsides.
The “Bee Tower hive” project in the swamp of Villers sur mer / France
Like all animals, bees need to eat food. They get the nectar and pollen they need primarily from flowers.
Wildflowers are best suited to provide these nutrients in return for the bees’ pollination work. The natural area of the Blonville and Villers marsh is very rich in wildflowers.
Bees also need a place to live. Solitary bees make do by digging in the ground or using hollow stems, you can help them by putting up insect hotels.
Honey bees, which produce honey, need a cave in which they can live protected.
Beekeepers offer them hives, but where do honey bees live in the wild? Usually in the caves of hollow trees.But there are fewer and fewer of them.
Therefore, the school apiary Villa le Bosquet offered to provide a biodiversity hive to be placed in the swamp. The hive is made of natural materials, including reeds from the marsh, and no honey is taken, so the bees are not disturbed.
The purpose of this hive is to provide the bees with a habitat that meets their needs. Well housed and well fed they should be happy….
So that the bees live!
Text: Olivier Duprez, Photos: Jan Michael, School apiary Villa le Bosquet
