An Innovate UK funded Women in Innovation project to develop prototype 3D printed hexagonal concrete landscaping components to form wild-Bee friendly habitats along urban and rural infrastructure networks. These green linear B-Lines will serve as a source of food and shelter for wild bees, connecting fragmented habitats, allowing our pollinators, wildlife and nature to thrive.
Roisin Hyde
Women in Innovation Award Winner
Nuala Reid
Project Manager
Sara Edwards
Garden Designer
Natalie Armstrong
Beekeeper
Manja van de Worp
Structural engineer
Lovely Jayne Javier
Junior Designer
The ethos behind the project is to demonstrate the utilisation of advanced technology and novel materials for the robotic fabrication of net-zero concrete components to serve as a model for the future of construction. Bee Banks will create and connect habitats that support biodiversity in otherwise lifeless urban and rural infrastructure.
The installation of a prototype Bee Bank will be completed this summer as the final stage of Kew’s Pollination Trail at the iconic Hive pavillion, showcasing the potential for the creation of sustainable, durable and resilient infrastructure where people and nature can thrive.
Large infrastructure projects like HS2, Crossrail 2, and the Heathrow Expansion are vital for the UK economy. They increase connectivity, encourage the use of public transport reduce congestion, attract investment, create jobs, balance regional inequality, strengthen trade, tourism, and business growth ensuring long-term economic competitiveness and sustainable national prosperity.
By incorporating linear green B-Lines into this new infrastructure we can allow bees to travel safely between food sources and nesting sites, boosting their populations and genetic diversity. These pollinator-friendly melliferous herbs and shrubs filled habitats will provide vital foraging and nesting habitats for native wild bees and connect fragmented landscapes. Nectar and pollen rich flowers like borage, salvia, buttercups and yarrow can sustain diverse pollinators, enhancing biodiversity. B-Lines also support other insects and wildlife, improve urban air quality and promote climate resilience by increasing vegetation cover. By integrating these green pathways into our urban and rural infrastructures we can strengthen ecosystems, protect pollinators, and restore balance to nature.
Concrete is the second most commonly used resource on our planet after water and second largest emitter of CO2 after fossil fuels. It is also responsible for the consumption of more than 1/3 of global virgin materials and destruction of delicate ecosystems and habitats caused by land clearing, quarrying and mining.
The decarbonisation of concrete through the use of local byproduct and waste materials is the single greatest action the construction industry can make to reduce global warming and protect natural habitats and ecosystems.
By eliminating our use of carbon-intensive clinker and sequestering carbon we can reduce our emissions and virgin resource consumption by more than 90% and deliver a beautiful, durable and resilient built environment where people and nature can thrive.
Bees are essential pollinators, responsible for fertilizing over 75% of flowering plants and about a third of the crops we consume. Their role in ecosystems supports biodiversity, ensuring plants reproduce and provide food for other wildlife. Without bees, many fruits, vegetables, and nuts would become scarce, disrupting food chains and economies. Beyond agriculture, bees help maintain healthy ecosystems by pollinating wild plants that prevent soil erosion and support wildlife habitats. However, habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change threaten bee populations. Protecting bees through conservation, sustainable farming, and habitat restoration is crucial for food security and environmental balance worldwide.
