Honeybees
Explanation
The hives are very busy. Buzzing bees fly in and out and swarm all around. They all gather around the entrance where they fly in and out. It may seem a little chaotic, but all is not what it appears; inside the hive, the order of an efficiently organised bee society reigns. Honey bees are social insects that live together in colonies. From March until September, we see them flying around, looking for nectar.
Relationship with humans
Why we do what we do
For thousands of years, honey bees have been kept by humans for the production of honey and beeswax. They are perhaps the oldest farm animals we know. But bees are also of great importance to humans for another reason. They pollinate many of our crops. Many fruit and vegetable growers cannot do without the help of bee-keepers and their bee colonies. The beehives in the Tapijn Garden are there for a reason and bees can simply not be missed.