Deeside: Tata Steel installs bee hives to help biodiversity

It is part of the company’s commitment to biodiversity, with the site already famous for hosting nesting sites for one of the UK’s most important visiting sea birds, the common tern—in fact it used to be the logo for the site.

Works manager, Bill Duckworth, said: “We have recognised that true sustainability requires a holistic approach. So our own commitment includes reducing our site’s carbon footprint, developing and producing products and services that support sustainable construction. 

"We also want to protect and expand the biodiversity that co-exists on our site, and maximising our material efficiency and achieving zero onsite waste.

Richard Owen, Technical Liaison Manager Tata Steel with Simon Fielding from the Welsh Beekeepers’ Association. (Image: Tata Steel)

“We are excited about this new project coming to Shotton, which is already known within Tata Steel as our steel works with most green spaces."

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He added: "We hope the bees will be very happy here – we might even get some Shotton honey from them!”

Simon Fielding, who is part of the Welsh Beekeepers’ Association and is also a member and tutor at the Flintshire and District Bee Keeping Association, recently visited the site and hosted some introductory sessions on bees and bee-keeping.

He said: “Bees are an excellent indicator of an area's blooming biodiversity and they help pollinate flowers and trees which in turn provide food and shelter for other wildlife.”