GLASGOW HOTELS INSTALL BEEHIVES AT LOCAL HOSPICE

Two of Glasgow’s leading hotels, voco® Grand Central and Kimpton Blythswood Square – both part of IHG Hotels & Resorts - have installed a pair of beehives within the gardens of the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow’s Southside.

The initiative aims to provide patients with the therapeutic benefits of fresh honey in their diet while also fostering their connection with nature and enhancing their overall wellbeing.

The beehives are now home to between 50,000 and 100,000 bees, who will produce fresh honey for the hospice to serve to patients receiving care. Excess harvested honey will be jarred and sold in the hospice gift shop, with all proceeds going towards hospice maintenance.

The beehives will also support the local ecosystem, with its inhabitants playing a vital role in pollination which is essential for the growth of flowers, fruits and vegetables. The establishment of the beehives will not only enhance the flora and fauna of the hospice gardens for patients and their families to enjoy but will also contribute to the health and biodiversity of the wider natural surroundings.

The hives, now buzzing to life, were officially handed over in a special ceremony attended by staff from both the hotel and hospice which saw their official names unveiled as ‘Let it Bee’ and ‘Buzzingham Palace’.

Marcello Ventisei, Cluster General Manager at voco Grand Central and Kimpton Blythswood Square, and Donna Doig, Director of Facilities and Engineering at voco Grand Central, donned beekeeper suits to get up close and personal with the hive residents and learn more about how honey is harvested.
Marcello said: “We are thrilled to be able to contribute to the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in such a meaningful way.

“I hope the honey produced by the hives brings a little sweetness to the day for hospice patients. I’ve tried the honey myself and can testify that it is delicious and like no honey I’ve ever tasted before.”

As well as the beehives, the hotels also gifted the hospice with premade jars of local honey ready to be sold immediately while the hive residents are busy building their own reserves.

Rhona Baillie OBE, Chief Executive of The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, said: “Thank you to the entire team at voco Grand Central and Kimpton Blythswood Square for their generous donation and support.

“The hives have already began producing delicious honey that we’ve been serving to patients with their breakfast, and the jars sold will help us continue to support families affected by a terminal diagnosis across the South of Glasgow and East Renfrewshire.”




The hives were installed into the hospice gardens and carefully monitored by father-daughter beekeeping duo Katie and Edward O’Brien; owners of family run business Ed’s Bees. Katie emphasised how important bees are to the environment.

“Bees are incredibly vital to our ecosystem – without them, the world as we know it would rapidly decline. Bees pollinate trees and wildflowers, which then supports other insects, birds, bats, and other mammals. They also pollinate food crops and feed livestock – saving farmers millions of pounds in manual labour.

“Bees are endangered for many reasons, including climate change and habitat destruction, which is why it's so important to support them when and where we can.

“The hotels have done a wonderful thing by donating these hives, and it’s been a pleasure to watch the bees thrive in their new home.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice is located at 20 Dumbreck Road, Bellahouston, Glasgow, G41 5BW, with their gift shop and popular café open to the public.