Biodiversity: La Garde, exemplary in the protection of bees
La Garde has obtained the highest distinction of the APIcité label, rewarding its deep commitment to the protection of bees.
The 6th edition of the Semaine de l’abeille, which took place from September 21 to 26, ended in a great popular success.
More than just a festive event, this annual occurrence highlighted an ambitious and structured environmental policy, which has enabled the municipality to reach the highest level of recognition in terms of protecting pollinating insects.
A thematic village
The highlight of the week was the large beekeepers' market organized at the parc François Accusano. This green space was transformed into a place of exchange and discovery for families, where visitors were able to find local honeys, sweets, wax candles, and natural cosmetics.
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Numerous activities were offered: creative workshops, such as making balms or wax crayons, stood alongside awareness stands run by partners such as the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO), SITTOMAT, or the eco-guides of the Parc national de Port-Cros.
The Rucher de Fauville offered culinary demonstrations, while a round table led by Gilles Broyer, municipal councillor delegated to ecology, offered practical advice to encourage biodiversity in private gardens.
The week was also marked by intergenerational activities between school children and seniors, as well as a lecture on the interactions between flowers and insects by Doctor of Pharmacy M’Hamed-Ali Bouassida.
APIcité, an exemplary approach
This annual event is the showcase for in-depth daily work carried out by municipal services. The first municipality to obtain the APIcité label (with two bees) in 2020, a distinction awarded by the Union Nationale de l’Apiculture Française, La Garde took a new step in December 2023.
It has indeed obtained its third bee, synonymous with an "exemplary approach," which is the highest level of certification in existence.
This label rewards a cross-cutting strategy. The sustainable management policy for green spaces, with the strict application of "zero phyto" and the seeding of flower meadows at the foot of trees, offers vital food resources to pollinators while limiting the use of mechanical weeding.
The municipality's commitment is also reflected in active support for the local beekeeping sector. Municipal lands, particularly on the sites of the forêt du Thouars, Astourets, Castelles, and La Bouilla, are made available to beekeepers. An educational apiary in Thouars and a Bee-Pass connected beehive at the parc Thyde Monnier complete this initiative.
La Garde has also developed an innovative environmental biomonitoring project. Since 2021, six beehives installed on the Fontqueballe site, in partnership with the Régie des eaux, have been acting as ecological sentinels. Samples of pollen and wax collected by the bees allow for a detailed analysis of air quality and the detection of any potential presence of pesticides around the municipal water borehole.
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Finally, an ongoing awareness-raising component is deployed throughout the year through workshops in schools, honey-based menus in canteens, and the distribution of beehive products in retirement homes.
"The three bees represent the highest level of recognition that can exist, and the City is proud of it. The more bees there are, the more it will be a positive indicator for our environment. A concrete ambition to preserve these insects on which nearly 35% of our global food resources depend," emphasized Gilles Broyer.
Photos PRESSE AGENCE.