Bouygues UK partners with BeeOdiversity

Today is the United Nations’ World Bee Day.

We all depend on the survival of bees.

They, and other pollinators, contribute to the fundamental pollination process that keeps our ecosystems alive. Nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world’s food crops and 35% of global agricultural land. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity.

It is, therefore, crucial to monitor the decline of such pollinators and halt the loss of biodiversity.

The theme this year is “Bee engaged – Build Back Better for Bees” and, at Bouygues UK, we are doing just this.

Bouygues UK is happy to announce its new partnership with BeeOdiversity, a Belgian start-up that works to regenerate biodiversity by combining innovative tools based on nature and unique biodiversity expertise. Working with all kinds of industries and sectors, BeeOdiversity helps municipalities, real estate actors, the agri-food sector, industrials and corporates alike protect our most precious resources, i.e. nature, water, air quality, food, well-being, etc.

Through our partnership with BeeOdiversity, Bouygues UK are monitoring the local environment around our construction site at Hallsville Quarter in order to enhance local biodiversity and to raise awareness regarding pollution. We are collaborating not only with BeeOdiversity but with real-life bees, to monitor key air quality and biodiversity indicators like plant diversity and level of local pollutants (pesticides and heavy metals).

Local beekeepers, Bushwood Bees, have kindly supported our work by providing us with their own bees to work on the project. These bees report to beehives installed at our Hallsville Quarter project, fitted with BeeOdiversity’s BeeOmonitoring tool. The bees act as natural drones, collecting billions of pollen samples from the local area of around 700ha. These samples are then analysed at BeeOdiversity’s facilities in Belgium to identify the origin and level of pollutants (heavy metals and pesticides) as well as the plant diversity quality.

Thanks to this award-winning tool and scientifically validated metrics, Bouygues UK will be able to understand the impact that the landscape and green roof at Hallsville Quarter have on the local area. We will, therefore, be able to make informed decisions and implement actions to enhance biodiversity in future phases of the development. These goals are a testament to Bouygues UK’s Responsible and Committed Policy.

“It is so rewarding to be working with nature to support key pollinators whilst also building an exceptional project that will have a positive impact on the local community. Through this collaboration with BeeOdiversity, we are helping not only to bring about ecological change to the local area, but we are also supporting local business owners like Bushwood Bees; it is a pleasure to do so.” Geoffroy Bieth, Hallsville Quarter Phase 3 Project Manager.

“It is a real honour and source of motivation for BeeOdiversity to enter into an innovative partnership with an environmentally committed group like Bouygues UK and Bushwood Bees! This innovative project perfectly illustrates how, through collaborative means, nature and real estate development can improve the local region, its environment and the well-being of pollinators and humans.” Michaël Van Cutsem, BeeOdiversity CEO.