Bees at the Airport

North of the runway at Airport Weeze, there are lively flight operations: up to 400,000 honeybees live in six colonies on the airport grounds. The insects of beekeeper Albrecht Spolders from Geldern not only produce up to 300 kilos of honey per year, but also have a part-time job as environmental controllers. As they absorb the nectar from surrounding flowers and plants, they are perfect for biomonitoring. The honey produced by the airport bees can be examined in a laboratory and can then indicate possible pollution. The bees at Airport Weeze have been at home in a re-natured area since 2006; an external test laboratory gave the honey an excellent certificate. No wonder that honey from Airport Weeze is particularly popular. Beekeeper Albrecht Spolders sells the natural product at the weekly market in Geldern among other places. You should aim to be quick: “The honey is sold out in no time,” he says. A 500 gram jar summer honey from the airport costs 7 euros.

Contact: www.honig-spolders.de