Beekeeper Sabrina Lamm and Thomas Ballak, environmental officer at Schaeffler in Hirschaid, observe the first bees that take off on an orientation flight.

Three bee colonies on the factory premises in Hirschaid

Contribution to species protection and biological diversity with flowering meadows

Beekeeper from Hirschaid looks after bees from the region

In the last warm October days, an estimated 60,000 honey bees found their new domicile at the Hirschaid site. Three beehives have been set up on the edge of the factory premises. A recently planted and sown flowering meadow will provide food for the Schaeffler bees and, from next spring, will also attract wild bees and other insects.

One day before beekeeper Sabrina Lamm from Hirschaid opened the still-closed access holes, the beehives were brought to their place on the site and facing south-east. The tension was noticeable among those involved, above all the environmental officer at the Schaeffler site in Upper Franconia. Thomas Ballak even put his ear to the house and was happy to hear the newcomers hum.

In the most beautiful autumn weather, the time had come: just a few seconds after opening, the first bees flew out for an orientation flight. “The bees only fly at temperatures above 10 degrees and will soon go into hibernation. We still attach protective grids to the beehives against predators like mice and, if necessary, treat the bees as a precaution against the dangerous Varroa mite in December, ”says beekeeper Lamm. From now on, she will regularly check the Schaeffler bees, at least once a week from spring onwards.

Hirschaid Schaeffler honey

The 33-year-old is currently looking after 27 bee colonies at four different locations around Hirschaid. The beekeeping trade has a long tradition in the family, even if she didn't want to know anything about it at first. But she has been passionate about the hobby for several years and reports enthusiastically how she plans to populate the fourth beehive that is already available next year. Lamm is confident that around 25 kilograms of Hirschaid Schaeffler honey can be obtained from each beehive next summer.

Commitment to sustainability, environmental protection and biological diversity

Even before it was clear that bees would settle in Hirschaid, the Schaeffler site created the prerequisites: Around 4,000 square meters of open space were redesigned to be insect-friendly and natural with the support and advice of the “Bloom Pact Bavaria”. The newly created flowering meadows do not have to be laboriously maintained or mowed and do not require any additional irrigation. The site is also making a contribution to Schaeffler's sustainability goal of reducing fresh water consumption by 20 percent by 2030. Soil cultivation, recultivation of the previous areas and terrain design were carried out by the experienced local farmers with the appropriate equipment from the Bamberg machine ring.

“Working with Sabrina Lamm, a beekeeper from the region and her bees, who were also raised here, is a stroke of luck. We are sure that with further measures at the site we will be able to contribute to species protection and biodiversity. At the edge of the flowering meadow we also plant linden trees, which are used, for example, by wild bees, which are threatened with extinction, or by bumblebees. In this way, we also create a shady rest area that employees can visit during their break, ”says Thomas Ballak, the environmental officer at Schaeffler in Hirschaid, looking ahead. The establishment of a wild bee hotel is also planned.

The colonization of bees is the logical continuation of an action at this year's IAA Mobility. Here, the visitors to the Schaeffler booth were able to earn points in a quiz and thus contribute to the financing of the bees. Together with “Hectare of Nectar”, an initiative that aims to increase the bee population by ten percent by 2028, contact was established with the beekeeper, who now looks after the company bees.