Two bee colonies live on the roof
06.10.2023 – The roof of a building owned by Stadtwerke subsidiary GBO Gemeinnützige Baugesellschaft mbH in the Mathildenviertel district has become a much-used landing site: Two bee colonies have had their hive there since the beginning of September and forage for food from here.
Jürgen Rupp, GBO's Deputy Head of New Construction and Refurbishment, came up with the idea that a residential building could also provide accommodation for flying residents.
He could count on the approval of Managing Director Daniela Matha: she has been an enthusiastic hobby beekeeper for years.
Daniela MathaWe have photovoltaic systems and perennials on some of our roofs, and bee colonies fit in well with the concept of sustainability.
She organized the two bee colonies and the corresponding housing privately and in her free time. A student from the Offenbach beekeepers' association was recruited to look after them regularly. Matha does not believe that the hot summer months could become a problem for the beehives on the roof: "Bees fan themselves and their queen, who is solely responsible for the offspring, as well as the brood with their many thousands of wings." In addition, the animals have a radius of around three kilometers in which to forage for flowers, so that they can find enough food even if they have a permanent home in Offenbach's city centre.