Welcome to the Manchester Bees, dedicated to celebrating one of Manchester’s most enduring icons. Here you can find a wealth of information about the bee, from its history to its presence around the city centre, from appearing on buildings to the streets. There’s also details about upcoming and past events and also about Manchester’s urban beehives.
City Centre Beehives – Soapworks
A quick look at the beehives atop Salford’s Soapworks.
City Centre Beehives – Home
Situated high up atop the roof of HOME are the newest urban beehives in the city centre.
The Origin of the Manchester Bee Design
Tracing the history of the Mancheser Bee design.
Hidden Manchester Bees
Tracking down the harder to find bees dotted around the city centre.
The Bees of St Bede’s
Documenting the bees decorating the exterior and interior of St Bede’s College
Making a Manchester Bee Mosaic
Making a Manchester Bee Mosaic with Amanda McCann.
St Peter’s Square “Hive”
Hive is a 16 foot interactive installation located within 2 St Peter’s Square.
Manchester Bee Street Furniture
A ubiquitous sight around the city centre, bees are featured on a variety of street furniture, a highly visible sign of its importance as a symbol of Manchester.
The Daily Manchester Bee
Learn all about the Daily Manchester project running over on twitter.
Manchester Bus Bees
Highlighting the uses of bee imagery by Manchester bus companies.
The Bees of Monton
A short journey over to Monton reveals a plethora of Bee designs.
The Principal Manchester Clock Tower Bees
Standing 217 feet (66 metres) high, the clock tower of what is now the Palace Hotel was the tallest building in Manchester for many years.
Co-Operative Society Beehives
The beehive has long been one of the main symbols of the Cooperative movement, representing working together for the good of the whole.