A hedge or trellis planted directly in front of the hive entrance forces departing bees to climb steeply before they reach cruising altitude — the same "flyway barrier" many municipal beekeeping ordinances require at 1.8m (6ft) or more, specifically so foragers clear pedestrian head height well before the property line.
The model estimates the flight height at the fence line from the hedge's forced climb angle, the entrance height (0.35m) and the distance still to cross: a taller hedge and a longer setback both give the flight path more room to rise, while denser, layered forage keeps trips short so fewer flights are made at low, risky altitude at all.
- Flyway hedge height — forces the departure angle; taller hedge = steeper early climb.
- Forage bloom density — fraction of containers in flower; denser bloom means shorter, calmer flights.
- Container ring count — number of pots/raised planters ringing the yard.
- Fence-line setback — distance from hive to the neighbour's fence; more distance to climb before crossing it.
- Season — swaps which container plants are currently blooming.