For The Love Of Bees

Bumblebee on Cosmos

I remember my grandfather telling me about the importance of bees, since then they have always been extra special to me. This is why BBCT is the first charity we are partnering with. To celebrate our partnership with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust from February this year, we are announcing our collection of Bee Gift Sets. What better way to start 2017 than supporting a charity like this one. Though relatively small in size The Bumblebee Conservation Trust has a big heart. The trust was set up with the aim of conserving and spreading knowledge about these wonderful little creatures. We had a chat with them and asked them a few questions:

1. When was BBCT started?

The Trust was set up in 2006, so last year was our big 10th anniversary year – with lots of achievements to celebrate!

2. Who started the BBCT charity, and why?

The Trust was founded by Professor Dave Goulson in response to concerns over bumblebee population declines. Since the 1940’s Britain has lost over 98% (3 million hectares) of our flower-rich meadow to intensive agriculture, urban development or simply neglect, leaving bumblebees hungry and homeless. In his published book ‘A Sting in the Tale’, Dave Goulson recognised the unique love that British people have for the countryside and animals and plants that inhabit it, and that it is this support that has allowed the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to flourish.

3. What is your favourite fact about bumblebees?

That they have smelly feet! Bumblebees are covered in any oily film that makes them waterproof, but it also leaves a chemical indicator on flowers that the bumblebee visits so that others know not to bother with a particular flower, as the nectar has already been foraged.

4. Why is it important to look after Bumblebees?

Pollinating around 80% of native wildflower species and a significant number of the crops we rely on, we benefit from the ‘free-bee’ service bumblebees provide, which, in a 2014 study was estimated to be worth around £691 million to the UK economy annually.

The important pollination services of bumblebees has been long since recognised, but they are also highly valued for their intrinsic worth as an interesting and charismatic wild species. And what is more delightful on a beautiful summers day than watching a hard-working bumblebee zip from flower to flower collecting nectar? More importantly, bumblebees are in decline with two extinct and seven now very rare out of the 25 UK species so we must act now to provide habitat.

5. Are there any exciting things happening with BBCT in 2017?

Of course! Two of our largest projects, Pollinating the Peak and Making a Buzz, are going to be submitting their applications for stage 2 funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to take them from their development phase into the delivery phase. As part of the Pollinating the Peak project we will be developing a range of educational resources including a mobile Polli:lab to engage our younger generation, aimed at secondary school children, and encourage the next wave of conservationists. From our national BeeWalk scheme we now have enough bumblebee recording data to start a full analysis on how bumblebee populations have changed over recent years which will certainly make for interesting reading.

Our wonderful volunteers will be attending events and delivering talks and workshops all over the country spreading the word of the bumblebee! And as always, we will be working with farmers and landowners to keep creating colourful, flower-rich, bumblebee-friendly habitat for everyone to enjoy. As well as 10% from anything sold from the Bee page on our website going to BBCT, we are also proud to introduce three lovely gift sets. Each set is carefully hand wrapped in our eco-friendly gift-wrap. Carefully wrapped in tissue and placed in one of our lovely gift boxes, they are then finished with a bow.

Bee Gift Set. New for 2017 with 10% going to BBCT

Our mini bee gift set includes a wish bracelets with a gold plated bee on it and bee seeds. Fitting through most letter boxes. Costing £7.50 it makes a fantastic gift for birthdays, Mothers’ Day or other occasions. Our second gift box includes a bee wish bracelet, bee seeds and a bee votive candle. The Deluxe Bee set includes our Sterling Silver Bee necklace, a handmade paper rose, a bee candle and handmade packet of bee & butterfly seeds. At least 10% from sales from all of these gift sets will be going to BBCT.

All of these products have been made for us by some very talented makers based in the UK. We have caught up with a few of them below.

PaperBeau

Our seed packets and paper flowers are made by the lovely Helen. We asked Helen how she started and what influenced her into making these beautiful flowers, we loved her reply:

“Paper Bea was launched in 2015 within a little Derbyshire cottage. At the time I was working for a company and not particularly enjoying what I was doing. I’d had a good moan at a friend and she asked if I’d seen the Alan Watts video- If Money Were No Object What Would You Do? (It is worth a google). It asks the question, what would you do if money was no object, what do you really enjoy doing? I love growing flowers, especially British wildflowers. So that’s what I did, a chance conversation led to creating some ‘bee friendly seed kits’ for a wedding and it snowballed from there, a few years later another chance conversation led to creating the paper flowers. I’ve never forgotten that video and still watch it. I’d highly recommend it to anyone.

I personally believe that everyone has a one thing that they are really very good at, they love doing it and that is there ‘thing’. I adore making the paper flowers. Creating bouquets, posies, displays. Last Summer I was making them outside and they even fooled the bees… I’d like to think if I got their seal of approval I may of just found my ‘thing’.”

Bee Jewellery

Paper flowers made for us by Helen.

Our gorgeous bee jewellery has been handmade for us in Cornwall, UK .

The lovely Victoria started making jewellery around 8 years a go.  ‘’It was a hobby course as I had just qualified as a Primary School teacher. My friends asked me to make jewellery and I made presents for my bridesmaids and our wedding rings. I started a Facebook page and when I was on maternity leave. I started making jewellery and getting a collection together, I never went back to teaching.’’

Victoria and her growing team make a beautiful range of jewellery. As well as the bee bracelet and necklace in these sets we sell her sterling silver bee earrings. And a range of other jewellery including some new jewellery coming soon.

We are really excited to be working with BBCT. It is something that is close to our hearts. We love the bee gifts, we hope that you do. BBCT  is a registered charity (England No 1115634 Scottish Charity No SC042830) If you wish to learn more about BBCT please click here to visit their website.

Bee Bracelet on Cosmos