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THE LONDON BUZZ
Limited edition honey, produced by Aramark-sponsored bees, has gone on sale at the University of London. It's all part of a project to preserve the honeybee. Aramark, a global provider of food,
facilities management and uniform services, has worked with its clients at the university since last year on the initiative and funded the project, which now sees 150 jars of honey on sale in the University’s Aramark-run Senate House café. As well as honey, a small amount of furniture beeswax has also been produced.
The University of Sheffield’s Love Square scheme is one of five projects shortlisted for the chance to win cash from the Big Lottery Fund through the Grow Wild initiative
UK only has 100 seasons left in its soil
Intensive over-farming in the UK has depleted the soil of the nutrients needed to grow crops meaning that we only have 100 harvests left unless dramatic action is taken, scientists at the University of Sheffield have revealed. At the same time, lack of bio-diversity
is causing a dramatic fall in wildlife populations in this country. In order to ensure future generations are able to grow fruit and vegetables, we should start to see our towns and cities as potential farmyards. Growing crops and wildflowers in our cities will also boost bio-diversity and help wildlife. A recent study by Dr Jill Edmondson
Two beehives were installed on the roof
of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, which is part of the University, in summer last year. Located in the heart of London’s Bloomsbury, the rooftop location is ideal for encouraging urban biodiversity as it is surrounded by green spaces. Money raised from the sale of the
honey will go towards the upkeep of the beehives. Aramark Account Director for the
University of London, Viv Shinner, said: “Bees are vital to our local and global ecology as they pollinate plants and crops. We need to protect and boost their numbers, so this project is creating a buzz around the University in more ways than one.”
from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, found that soils under Britain’s allotments are significantly healthier than soils that have been intensively farmed. In the study, Dr Edmondson took soil
samples from 27 plots on 15 allotment sites in urban areas. She also sampled soils from local parks, gardens and surrounding agricultural land. Compared with local arable fields, the allotment soil was found to be significantly healthier. Allotment soil had 32% more organic
carbon, 36% higher carbon to nitrogen ratios, 25% higher nitrogen and was significantly less compacted. While urban areas are perceived as
grey and concrete, pockets of rich, fertile land could be converted into farms to grow a diverse range of produce. Inner-
city wildflower meadows can increase wildlife and bring colour and vibrancy to otherwise drab areas. One such scheme has been proposed
by Prof Nigel Dunnet of the University of Sheffield who plans to transform a piece of wasteland in the centre of the town into an eco-park filled with UK native wildflowers. Love Square in Sheffield will be a unique 'mobile wilderness' bringing nature right back into the heart of the city. The scheme is one of five projects shortlisted for the chance to win cash from the Big Lotery Fund through the Grow Wild initiative, led by the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, with the winner chosen by public vote. The Love Square scheme is intended
to act as a template for other cities and represents a new approach to urban growing. The 2,000 sq m site will feature a series of modules each containing different types of wildflowers and edible plants. Lack of bio-diversity in city centres has
had a serious impact on wildlife in recent decades. Since the 1930s, the UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows, resulting in dramatic reductions in the populations of bees and other insects. Professor Dunnet said: “Lack of
pollinators means reduction in food. We need to dramatically rethink our approach to urban growing and use the litle space we have as efficiently as possible.”
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