Since he was a kid, Jacky Guerrée has had a passion for the world of bees. First an amateur beekeeper, the Chartrain now recently retired devotes all his energy and a large part of his time to his various apiaries. By coincidence, Jacky Guerrée is close to the Chartres handball club which plays in the men's elite of the discipline. A club which is preparing to take possession, on Friday April 5, 2024, of its brand new room. Namely: the Colosseum. In addition to sporting events, the new Zénith will be able to host concerts and other broadcasts of live shows. The room with a capacity of 4,000 seated spectators is located in the very center of Chartres or almost. At least, far enough from the perimeter of the famous cathedral which limits the possibilities in terms of construction.
The Coliseum took root on the grounds of a former industrial wasteland adjacent to the railway tracks and the Chartres station. Resolutely modern in architecture, the structure is distinguished by its entirely green roof. Strips of lavender, rosemary in particular, alternate on this entirely green roof. The land is suitable for the installation of an urban apiary. This set of favorable factors has not escaped Jacky Guerrée, who is being installed on the roof of the Colisée. And this with the unconditional support of the local authority, Chartres Métropole, which owns the premises. “The installation conditions are optimal,” confirms Jacky Guerrée. The first three hives will be at the top of the roof.”
First harvest in June 2024
The installation of an apiary in an urban area must meet a certain number of constraints. Safety required! And in particular with regard to the public or the population residing nearby. “In the case of the Coliseum, the three hives must be at least 20 linear meters from any public. We fully respect this obligation because the apiary is positioned between 30 and 35 meters from the belvedere, the pedestrian path which allows you to go around the roof. Access to the vegetated part is prohibited to the public. Only the gardeners who ensure maintenance and Jacky Guerrée are authorized to go there.
Nearly 15,000 plants cover almost the entire roof of the Chartres Coliseum. “The three hives, and the three swarms born this year, will be at the heart of this vegetation, quite bare for the moment,” explains Jacky Guerrée. In addition to lavender and rosemary, we are fortunate to be very close to several municipal parks and gardens, with all their seasonal flowers. The bees will also find plenty of acacias near the apiary. All this should give an urban honey with a strong mixture of nectars. » The climatic conditions remain. Which ones are decisive. However, Jacky Guerrée is hopeful of harvesting his first harvest in June 2024.