Princesshay City Bee Project

Princesshay’s City Bee project began in 2012, when a tranquil rooftop garden was created for honey bees high above the shopping centre as part of an environmental initiative which forms part of the company’s wider biodiversity strategy.

Princesshay’s city bee project continues to grow, with the project now housing between 3 – 5 hives with approximately 240,000 bees. Honey that is harvested from Princesshay’s city bee project is sold in Chandos Deli, located in Roman Walk with all proceeds donated to Princesshay’s Charity of the Year.

Princesshay now also has an observation hive, offering visitors and school groups the opportunity to see the activity inside the hive through glass panels. Princesshay regularly encourage visitors to visit the project and get an insight into the busy world of bees. To date, the city bee project has been visited by over 1500 school children, students and members of the public.

Interested in a spring/summer 2025 rooftop garden and bee hives tour?

Tour dates are now live and can be booked here a month prior to each tour. Tickets are £5 per person and proceeds will go to Vranch House, our Charity of the Year 2025/26.

Upcoming dates; 

Tuesday 20 May (World Bee Day) – 9am, 11am, 1pm

Thursday 19 June – 10am

Thursday 10 July – 10am

Thursday 31 July – 10am

Thursday 14 August – 10am

Thursday 18 September – 10am

In September 2016, Princesshay unveiled a new piece of commissioned public art by Exeter based artist Amy Shelton. The Princesshay Honey Flow light box is situated in Bampfylde Lane.

The Princesshay Honey Flow light box by nationally renowned, local artist Amy Shelton, is a bespoke, specially commissioned public artwork which showcases the plants most
important to the Princesshay honey bees collecting pollen and nectar across Exeter, from the first flowers of spring right through the seasons.  Visitors to the light box will be able to see the city from a bee’s perspective!

Find out more by watching this short film.