The Honeybee population in Caerphilly County Borough could be boosted after plans for a new apiary were unveiled.
Caerphilly County Borough Council is to lease land near Trethomas to the Cardiff, Vale and Valleys Beekeeping Association for a new apiary
The proposed nursery apiary will allow enthusiasts to learn all about beekeeping.
Around 10 to 12 hives will be located on the site where work on the apiary will start in April.
The site near Trethomas is away from residential areas and offers bees an ideal habitat with many flowering species in the south-facing grassland.
Councillor Ron Davies, the council’s cabinet member for regeneration and countryside, welcomed the deal.
He said: “We are delighted that we can support the plight of our bee population by offering this site for such a worthwhile cause. The council will work with the association to develop the new apiary which will provide a valuable contribution to the environment and the local community.”
The Cardiff, Vale and Valleys Beekeeping Association hopes to breed bees that are as close as possible to the species indigenous to Wales and the UK – the Black Honeybee.
This species has been highlighted as a possible key to reversing the decline in the UK’s honeybee population and could help it survive the kind of threats that have resulted in the decline over recent years.
The project could also help the council hit biodiversity targets.
John King, chairman of Cardiff, Vale and Valleys Beekeeping association has welcomed the initiative.
He said: “I’m very pleased that Caerphilly are supporting us and recognising the importance of bees in the food chain.”