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An international research project has been launched to uncover how wild honey bee colonies survive and thrive in the wild across Europe’s diverse landscapes.   The project is being announced to mark World Bee Day today (Tuesday May 20), highlighting the importance of wild bees and their role in biodiversity. Led by University of Galway, with support from the Environmental Protection Agency, the FREE-B project is aimed at safeguarding honey bee biodiversity, improving resilience and driving transformative change in beekeeping, by bringing together researchers from Ireland, France, Poland, Portugal and Sweden to explore the survival tactics of free-living honey bees (Apis mellifera). Once thought to be extinct in the wild, recent independent research has revealed that free-living honey bee exist in some parts of Europe, including Ireland. However, how they are able to survive in the wild and whether they can form a stable populations in remote forests remains largely unknown. FREE-B seeks to address this knowledge gap by investigating the biological, behavioural, and environmental factors that bolster survival of these colonies. Professor Grace McCormack, School of Natural Sciences, University of Galway, said: “We have been monitoring free-living honey bee colonies across the island of Ireland since 2015 and have found excellent overwintering survival in this group. There is a high proportion of pure native Irish honey bee in the wild population and our research so far suggests that they do not have any higher levels of pests or diseases than managed colonies. Being well adapted to local conditions they may hold key secrets that could improve apiculture in Ireland. Indeed, many beekeepers already rely on wild colonies to bolster their beekeeping, particularly beekeepers who no longer use chemicals to treat for the parasitic varroa mite. “We look forward to extending our research via FREE-B to investigate broader patterns of survival in this key group across different latitudes and climates, to diving deeper to understand what goes on in a wild nest throughout the season, and to sharing exciting research outputs with beekeepers.” Teams from the five European countries will search for nest sites in collaboration with citizen scientists and the international coalition Honey Bee Watch, with a special focus on forested and remote areas. In addition to gathering information about the colonies, such as location, nest type, and density, they will also conduct regular monitoring of nests to track survival rates. Researchers will then assess landscape effects on colony survival and analyse genetic and morphologic data to evaluate diversity and adaptation to varying environments from Portugal to Sweden. In addition, pest and pathogen loads will be compared to those found in managed hives to better understand if wild populations better tolerate or resist disease, while investigations of pollen usage will determine if wild colonies utilise different forage compared to managed colonies. In Ireland and Poland, FREE-B will pilot the potential harnessing of free-living honey bee colonies to produce locally resilient honey bee stocks by testing whether swarms collected from these colonies can be successfully managed in treatment-free apiaries. The team will measure various factors to assess their viability for future beekeeping, including disease, over winter survival, and honey production.             Steve Rogenstein, Project Director of Honey Bee Watch, said: "What excites us most is that, with Biodiversa's support of FREE-B, some of Europe's leading researchers of free-living honey bees, from Iberia to Scandinavia and spanning Western and Eastern Europe too, are coming together to extensively collect and analyse data collaboratively and from a multidisciplinary perspective. We hope that this international effort will provide insights as to how and why wild populations survive, and that any nature-based solutions that we collectively devise and implement will benefit both the bees as well as beekeepers in the five participating countries and beyond." FREE-B is a collaboration between researchers at University of Galway; Kazimierz Wielki University, Poland; Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Portugal; IRD, University Paris-Saclay, France; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Swenen, and Honey Bee Watch, Ireland. Findings from the project will be shared with a wide range of stakeholders including beekeepers, policymakers, veterinarians and foresters, who may have direct or indirect effects on the well-being of these bee populations. Researchers will also share insights with beekeepers to help reduce mortality rates and improve sustainability in beekeeping. Ends

As part of a broader effort to protect and conserve the vital population of native Irish honey bees, University of Galway is calling on members of the public to participate in a comprehensive bee census in Inishowen, Co Donegal.   Launched today on World Bee Day (Tuesday 20 May), the survey aims to map and gather data on the population density of both free-living and managed bee colonies in the region.   Researchers are also keen to explore the interactions between these different colonies and investigate whether their interactions are beneficial to the future conservation of these essential pollinators.   The survey is a key part of wider safeguarding efforts for the future of the native Irish honey bee, which has seen declining populations in recent years due to hybridisation of native bees with imported forms, habitat and biodiversity loss, disease, and climate change.               Professor Grace McCormack, Head of the School of Natural Sciences at University of Galway, said: “There are no accurate data on the density of honey bee colonies in Ireland and this census information is necessary for investigating impacts of various factors on honey bee survival, and the interactions between wild and managed bees. Funded by Research Ireland, the team at University of Galway’s School of Natural Sciences, with the help of Mick Verspuij and his friends in Donegal, have already produced a lot of data on honey bees in Inishowen making it an ideal place to focus on for this project.”   University of Galway PhD student Mick Verspuij has been actively involved in the beekeeping community in Inishowen for almost a decade and is currently studying for a doctorate, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, on the international research project Free-B which is being launched to uncover how wild honey bee colonies survive and thrive in the wild across diverse landscapes of Europe in Ireland, France, Poland, Portugal and Sweden and what differentiates them from nearby managed colonies.   University of Galway researchers are encouraging all members of the community, from local residents to beekeepers, community groups and schools to farmers, to report their observations of bee colonies, by completing an easy-to-use online form.                PhD student Mick Verspuij said: “I have been actively involved in the Inishowen beekeeping community for nearly 10 years now and still come across new honeybee nest locations within Inishowen. It just shows you how little is known about the density and spread of honeybee colonies in just one region. Collectively with the help from the people in the area we can start making sense of the impact honeybee colonies have on the local environment and together work to a better future for all pollinators within Inishowen.” To learn more about the census or how to get involved visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/honeybeecensus.   Ends

University of Galway has been awarded the Smarter Travel Mark by the National Transport Authority during Bike Week 2025. The award recognises the University’s significant progress in promoting sustainable travel initiatives on campus. University staff and students accepted the award at an event during Bike Week 2025. Dr Richard Manton, Director of Sustainability, University of Galway, said: “We are very pleased to have achieved the NTA Smarter Travel Mark. This mark celebrates the collective effort of staff, students, and partners working towards a healthier and more sustainable future. Particular credit is due to the University’s Buildings and Estates Office for making the campus a more friendly place for walking, cycling and wheeling.” University of Galway marked Bike Week 2025 with a range of on campus events promoting cycling, community and sustainability across campus. Activities included a Bike Maintenance Talk and Demo with An Mheitheal Rothar offering staff and students practical advice on keeping their bikes in top shape. The University also hosted a Coffee Morning / Connect Café at Moffett’s, where participants enjoyed inspiring conversations with Professor Eoghan Clifford, School of Engineering and Marianne McNally, Human Resources, University of Galway on the role of cycling and active travel in sustainable living. The University also encouraged participation in the broader National Bike Week and continues to champion sustainable travel as an SDG Ambassador and Ireland’s top university for sustainability. Ends