The supermarket chain Aldi asked Hadrian Technology to install four high-definition CCTV cameras to protect eight hives outside of its UK head offices at Atherstone, Warwickshire.
Aldi installed the insect observation hive as an interesting feature for staff and visitors, who will be able to watch 500,000 bees flying in and out of the hives on a giant screen in the retailer’s reception. While providing CCTV to protect a beehive may be unusual, the CCTV cameras will help to deter thieves and vandals. Thousands of honey bees are stolen every year as a decline in bee numbers means hives, and queens, are worth more. This summer, 30,000 bees and three queens were stolen from a honey farm in Anglesey, North Wales.
Gary Trotter, pictured, general manager at Hadrian Technology, said: “This was a really unusual project for us, but we fit security cameras anywhere there is a need – and even bees need security. It will protect them from being stolen or from malicious damage.
“We have installed two internal and two external cameras protecting the entrances and the hives. It will help to protect the bees and all the equipment. We have also installed data infrastructure for Aldi to install two webcams to monitor the bees entering and leaving the hives. The CCTV cameras were installed before the bees arrived and Aldi will be able to monitor the security of the thousands of bees.”
CCTV for the bee hotel is part of a larger project by Hadrian Security to install and upgrade 300 CCTV cameras at Aldi’s distribution centre and car park, due to be completed this autumn. As the biggest contract ever by Hadrian Technology, the Sunderland-based installation and maintenance company is on target to deliver a turnover of £9m during 2015/16. Hadrian Technology designs bespoke CCTV systems for a diverse range of commercial, leisure and retail clients across the UK and Ireland, and installs more than 800 cameras every month.
