Unique hobby for Sydney residential property owners
Some Sydney residents are contributing to the city's biodiversity in a unique way by setting up small beekeeping operations in their gardens.
This sustainable hobby, dubbed 'backyard beekeeping' is a great way for residential property owners and tenants to produce their own honey and support the local environment - especially as the bees are a stingless variety.
City of Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore explained: "Australia has ten different species of tiny stingless native bees so there are no nasty surprises or danger for beekeepers or the community."
She added that the bees play an important role in maintaining the biodiversity of Sydney's urban communities, as they pollinate native plants that grow in public parks and neighbourhood gardens.
Whether you're living in a Sydney rental property or own your own home, there are plenty of ways to get involved with community gardening in Australia's largest city, according to City of Sydney urban manager Katie Oxenham.
Some beehives can even be installed on apartment balconies - and the honey produced by stingless sugarbag bees is low-GI and considered to be something of a delicacy.
Native beehives will be supplied to a number of the city's community gardens later in 2012 - and beginner beekeepers courses have already been offered to booked-out crowds earlier in the year.
