Pollinators on Campus

University of Richmond is a certified Bee Campus USA affiliate. This recognition acknowledges that the campus is conducive to pollinators, supporting the pollinator community with a variety of habitats around campus.

Pollinators are an essential part of our agriculture and our ecosystems. Climate change, pesticides, and herbicides have all contributed to bee populations' global decline. We rely on honey bees to pollinate many of our crops, so this is not just an environmental issue, but also an issue of food security. In order to support pollinators on campus, University of Richmond has two campus beehives, a pollinator meadow, and native plantings across campus.

Our two campus hives are located between the Wilton Center and the Steam Plant. The Department of Biology manages these hives, which are home to more than 45,000 bees, and uses them for hands-on research. As part of an ecology course, students have planted two small pollinator gardens near the hives.

A pollinator meadow containing milkweed and other native flowers is located near the campus community garden in the Eco-Corridor. All the plants in the Eco-Corridor are native to the Greater Richmond Area and 42% are recognized to be pollinator friendly, supporting local bees as well as butterflies and other pollinators. Removal of invasive species from the area has allowed native plants to flourish and thrive, resulting in increased attraction of local pollinators. Increased pollinator populations helps improve the health of the local ecosystem and supports biodiversity.

University of Richmond's Integrated Pest Management Plan outlines a sustainable approach to handling pests that negatively intefere with University facilities. The plan considers an approach that minimizes environmental, health, and economic risks. View the plan here.

Bee Campus Committee

The Bee Campus committee meets quarterly. Committee members are listed below.