Tuesday 7th April 2020
We know how important pollinators are for farmers, in fact they’re an integral part of growing food for people and for cows. We’ve had hives in the valley for a while now and our bees are very much seen as VIPs on the farm!
We love our bees so much that we want to share the love, so we’ve decided to partner up with Buckley’s Bees to build and manage 10 new beehives and colonies across a number of British organic dairy farms. A father and daughter team based in Cheshire, Buckley’s Bees Beekeepers are registered BBKA members and have been breeding and caring for British Bees for over 50 years, so we know they share our passion for all things bee!
With reductions in wildflower meadows and increased urbanisation, there are now just 270,000 active hives in the UK compared with around 1,000,000 hives in 1900! Over the next two years we hope to provide homes for hundreds of thousands of new British honey bees.
Our partnership with Buckley’s Bees will mean that these hives and bee colonies are looked after and managed throughout the year according to the BBKA and Defra standards, with regular inspections to check on their homes and manage the colony for honey production. One day we may even be able to use some of the honey they produce in our products!
Currently our queen bees are building their colonies and are being looked after by Emma at Buckley’s Bees in their designated apiary in Cheshire. They will be moved to 10 hives across 5 organic dairy farms in the UK as soon as travel restrictions are lifted – homing thousands of new bees over the next year!
Over the coming months, we’ll be updating you with news of our colonies so you can meet our new bees and find out more about the amazing work they do on the farm!
I love bees 🐝 💕
Love bees and I support my local bee keepers. To much imported honey in this country. Keep going Yeo.
God bless you, dear Yeo Valley, for all good, sustainable and healthy food that you daily bring to our tables and now especially for the bees! They are so much needed especially now, when their numbers, as we know, decreases tragically all around the globe! It is so good of you to love and share them with friends.
Longing to see the new Yeo Valley products with your natural honey!
Don’t forget bumblebees that especially in early spring are very important pollinators for fruit trees . Like rough areas and uncut lawns for their nests so undisturbed wildlife areas even a few metre square will help them
Love a bumble !
That’s fantastic news, Yeo Valley. Can’t have too many bees – they are wonderful creatures.
So sad that numbers have dropped so dramatically in the UK and wonderful that you are doing something about it, excellent. Lyn
I love bees so think this is a fabulous idea. We try to make some of our garden bee and butterfly friendly.
I buy local honey from the farm shop near where I live which is delicious.
Higher up the thread mention is made of “seed bombs” for prizes. Love that idea for a prize but also with Yeo’s organic farming, this is a brilliant idea anyway and an extra source of income for you!
Saw on-line recently that veggie growers should mix bee-friendly flowers among the veg or grow close by to encourage pollination of veg flowers. I have heard of marigolds but the pics I saw were of dahlia and lilies which were a surprise! Love bees and friendly wasps, that have a hive in one of our compost bins, which we were about to move, but now don’t dare!
As a beekeeper, I welcome this wonderful venture. Be sure to buy unadulterated honey by buying British especially direct from local beekeepers. Find one near you by contacting BBKA.