The Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) has officially welcomed its very own on-site hive of native Welsh honeybees as part of an innovative Sustainability Programme developed in partnership with Welsh company Bee1.
The initiative aims to promote biodiversity, support local pollinators and celebrate the role of bees in Welsh culture and heritage.
The hive, located on-site at the iconic Cardiff Bay venue, will be home to a thriving colony of honeybees cared for by trained staff and volunteers. As part of the programme, participants are undertaking beekeeper training designed not only to enhance environmental awareness but also to support health and wellbeing. Similar Bee1-led initiatives have been successfully delivered for NHS Trusts across the UK, providing opportunities for mindfulness and personal growth.
WMC’s involvement also extends beyond its Cardiff base, with the organisation supporting pollinator conservation at the Bee1 Heritage Site in the South Wales Valleys, further contributing to regional biodiversity efforts.
Mark Douglas, Founder of Bee1, said:
“We’re thrilled to see Wales Millennium Centre embracing this initiative and leading by example. Bees have been part of Wales’s cultural and natural heritage for centuries, seen in folklore as messengers between worlds and vital today as indicators of environmental health. By establishing an on-site hive, WMC is helping to protect one of Wales’s native species while also inspiring meaningful conversations about climate change, biodiversity and our shared responsibility to the land.”
Amy Brown, Sustainability Advisor at Bee1, added:
“As someone who has dedicated my career to sustainability, from my studies at Exeter University and experiences campaigning for climate action in the UK Youth Parliament, to soon beginning a PhD in Sustainability at Swansea University, I know how powerful practical, hands-on learning can be. The Wales Millennium Centre serves as a focal point for Welsh people and Welsh culture. As stewards of our land and the home of Welsh artistic life, the Centre is uniquely positioned to set an example for the next generation of Wales.
This relationship between art, literature, theatre and the natural world is a defining part of our national identity. Welsh culture has always been deeply connected to the land and that bond is evolving as we confront the realities of the climate crisis. Through initiatives like this, WMC is demonstrating a powerful commitment to sustainability, biodiversity, and environmental protection, preserving that vital link between Welsh culture and the environment for generations to come.”
The Wales Millennium Centre plans to expand its sustainability initiatives over the next 12–18 months, with a series of new projects designed to further its commitment to environmental awareness, community engagement and the people and landscapes of Wales.
