Logistics Locations of pfenning Provide a Home for Bees and Kestrels

The logistics facilities “multicube rheinhessen” and “multicube rheinneckar” of pfenning logistics not only offer space for complex logistics services but also, since May 2021, for honey and wild bees as well as kestrels. Additionally, the contract logistics provider has installed a nesting box for kestrels at each location on its own initiative.

(Heddesheim/Monsheim) The contract logistics service provider pfenning logistics, in collaboration with the investor Union Investment, realized the establishment of bee boxes and the settlement of honey bees at the locations of Heddesheim and Monsheim. The first phase of the project began in 2020, during which a total of 66 bee colonies with over one million bees were settled at various locations in the Union Investment portfolio. In February 2021, the second phase of the project was launched, which included the provision of boxes for various species of wild bees.

At the initiative of Union Investment, Alina Franco from the central purchasing and real estate department of pfenning logistics organized a site visit with a beekeeper from the association Stadtbienen e.V., which supports the Union Investment project nationwide. The local beekeeper also assists in the construction of the bee boxes, transportation, and long-term care of the bees. All bee boxes are manufactured in workshops for people with disabilities in Berlin and come from sustainable forestry. After four months, the settlement of the honey bees in the hives was successfully completed in May 2021. The beekeeper regularly checks the health and development of the bee colonies and prepares for their wintering.

Kestrels Often Nest in Building Niches

Additionally, pfenning logistics was able to quickly realize the installation of a nesting box for kestrels in Heddesheim and Monsheim. At the suggestion of the local NABU group (Nature Conservation Association Germany e.V.), suitable nesting boxes were ordered and installed by the building services. The kestrel is a cultural follower, meaning it often nests in building niches. Due to strong new construction activities and the demolition of historical buildings, it can no longer find suitable nesting sites. By providing and installing suitable habitats, its settlement is facilitated.

The installation of the nesting boxes at the two locations of pfenning logistics took place in May, which is very late for the natural nesting season of kestrels. Nevertheless, just two days after installation in Heddesheim, a breeding pair was observed in the box. Torsten Radszuweit, head of real estate and central purchasing at pfenning logistics, comments: “We are very pleased that we were able to ‘convince’ a breeding pair to settle at our location so quickly. Since kestrels usually remain loyal to a nesting site, we hope to welcome the pair back next year.”

Signs of Biodiversity

With these measures, pfenning logistics makes an active contribution to the preservation of bee and kestrel populations, thereby setting a sign for greater biodiversity. This represents another building block in the sustainability strategy of the contract logistics provider, which also includes the operation of logistics properties with minimal emissions.

Photo: © pfenning