APIdays: national awareness days for bees, environmental sentinels

API Days 2022

Every June since 2011, the Principality has celebrated APIdays, a programme led by the French National Union of Beekeeping (UNAF) to promote “bees, environmental sentinels”.

Following the signature of a partnership in 2005, several hives were set up on the roof terrace of the Museum of Philately and Coinage in Fontvieille. These are monitored by the UNAF, with help from a team from the Gardens Section at the Department of Urban Amenities.

This year, from 9 am to 4 pm on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 June, the Department of Urban Amenities will be offering free events for young and old alike at the UNESCO Gardens on the Fontvieille Terraces. It will be an opportunity for the beekeepers to provide information and raise awareness about the key role played by bees, the importance of protecting them, and the development of beekeeping in France. The theme chosen for this year’s events is “Flowers, bees... and humans”.

The programme will include a presentation on the benefits of melliferous plants; an exhibition on “the history of bees”; natural wax candle-making workshops; a chance to observe and learn to identify pollinating wasps, hornets and bees; discussions with the lead beekeeper, who will demonstrate how to extract honey; and games and quizzes.