#britishbee

[mattattridge-smith]

Posted @withregram • @youngspubs This is a gin with a difference. Made by @warnersgin's very own bees. Honeybee gin is crafted with 28 botanicals, including lavender, rose and a dollop of their very own honey. Released in partnership with the @the_rhs it was the first time this national gardening charity has partnered with a spirit brand, and a percentage of the proceeds from each bottle is donated to support their pollinator projects. To celebrate #WorldBeeDay @warnersgin have given us a bottle of Honeybee gin to give to you to make the perfect Bee&T. To enter: Like this post, follow @youngspubs and tag a friend. *Winner must be 18+ and UK based. Winner to be announced on 26th May 2020. . . . . . #BritishBees #HoneyBees #WorldBeeDay #Guildford #WarnersGin #HoneyBeeGin #HoneyGin #Win #Competition #GinLovers (at Manchester, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAZ2uqxl9Cx/?igshid=dwq0ty00qcfd

[upcycledcrafts-blog1]

Over at Mount Edgcumbe we are a part of the native Black Bee (Apis Mellifera Mel… Over at Mount Edgcumbe we're part of the native Black Bee (Apis Mellifera Mellifera) Conservation Group. The honey we promote@is foraged on the Rame Peninsula and consists of Gorse, Willow, Sycamore, Chestnut, Clover, BlackBerry, Rosebay, Willow herb and Ivy plus many many backyard flowers which supplies it the distinctive flavour.

[yellowbunnymedia-blog]

Why bees need our help

by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust

Bumblebees and Bees of all types are mainly under threat because of changes to the countryside in the UK. Changes in agricultural techniques have meant that there are far fewer wildflowers in the landscape than there used to be, meaning that many of our bumblebee species are struggling to survive. The dramatic decline in populations of most species, and the extinction of two species in the UK, show that something needs to be done. 

Causes of bumblebee declines: When we think of the British countryside, we often think of rolling green fields with crops or livestock. However, it wasn’t always this way. Until relatively recently, the British landscape was much more colourful. 

The fields had many more wildflowers, and these supported a much greater diversity of wildlife. However, technology and demand for increased food production meant that traditional agricultural practises were abandoned in favour of techniques which increased productivity but ultimately reduced the abundance of wildflowers in the countryside. Indeed, it has been estimated that we have lost 97% of our flower-rich grassland since the 1930s. 

As bees rely entirely upon flowers for food, it is unsurprising that their populations began to rapidly decline in most places. The result of this has been that two species have become extinct in the UK since the start of the 20th century: Cullem’s bumblebee (Bombus cullumanus), was last recorded in 1941. 

The Short-haired bumblebee (Bombus subterraneus), was last recorded in 1988. Both of these species are still found in Europe, but the British populations may have been specially adapted to our climate and environment. 

Sadly, several other bumblebee species are in trouble, and could become extinct in the UK within a short time. Two species in particular, the Great yellow bumblebee and the Shrill carder bee, are now only present in small numbers.

Impact of bumblebee declines: It is well-known that bumblebees are great pollinators, and therefore have a key role in producing much of the food that we eat. Through the pollination of many commercial crops such as tomatoes, peas, apples and strawberries, insects are estimated to contribute over £400 million per annum to the UK economy and €14.2 billion per annum to the EU economy. 

If bumblebee and other insect pollinator declines continue, the extremely high cost of pollinating these plants by other means could significantly increase the cost of fruit and vegetables. Bumblebees also help pollinate many wildflowers, allowing them to reproduce. Without this pollination many of these plants would not produce seeds, resulting in declines in wildflowers. As these plants are often the basis of complex food chains, it is easy to imagine how other wildlife such as other insects, birds and mammals would all suffer if bees disappeared. What can be done?

Fortunately, there is much that can be done to benefit bumblebees.  The Bumblebee Conservation Trust work to raise awareness of the plight of the bumblebee amongst the general public. In particular, we help our members by providing information about bumblebees, as well as newsletters with information and advice about the latest happenings in the bumblebee world. To become a member, visit our membership page. In areas where the rarest species are hanging on, we have been working with farmers who are farming in ways that are sympathetic to bumblebees. 

Some farmers have made a few simple changes to their techniques, which have meant more flowers blooming, and bumblebee populations recovering in some areas. If you are a farmer or land manager, have a look at our pages on Managing land for bumblebees to see what you can do. It is also possible for individuals and other groups to help bumblebees in their own communities. Perhaps the simplest thing to do is to plant some bee-friendly plants in your garden. This is explained more extensively in our section on Gardening for bumblebees. 

As gardens cover over one million acres in the UK, this presents a great opportunity to provide food for bumblebees. By using this space more effectively, we hope that everyone can get involved in making the landscape more friendly to bumblebees and help reverse the declines we have seen. People can also get involved in survey work. By doing this, we can see what bumblebees are present around the country, and how their distributions change over time. By monitoring the species like this, we can detect warning signs and take action to help.

[genesispr]

Thanks from British Beekeepers Association

Help @britishbee British Beekeepers Association raise funds for research into the threats #Honeybees honeybees face https://t.co/LObuXSk9VO #wildlife #nature #naturelovers #BritishBees. #WoodlandTrust #SaveTheBees #bumblebee #scotnature #naturephotography #pollinators

— Goldsmith PR ❤️ (@G0ldsmithpr) August 13, 2020

[freeglehertford]

A tweet

thisisfreegle: Could you beecome a bee friend? If you think you've got what it takes to offer a sanctuary to honey bees get in touch with The British Beekeepers Association britishbee https://t.co/y81Vt8Uhtw pic.twitter.com/WoEr0p8RLA #freeglehertford

— FreegleHertford (@freeglehertford) August 18, 2019

[wwwfoecouk]

RT @HelpingBees: Help #bees by planting flowers or donate to @BumblebeeTrust @britishbee @wwwfoecouk @AdoptABeehiveUK or @SussexUni… https://t.co/hpVvJTWMU3

Help #bees by planting flowers or donate to @BumblebeeTrust @britishbee @wwwfoecouk @AdoptABeehiveUK or @SussexUni bee program🐝 #savethebees http://pic.twitter.com/7asmWK8ntd

— Farmer Bea (@HelpingBees) August 9, 2017

from Twitter https://twitter.com/wwwfoecouk August 10, 2017 at 08:04PM

[jdaviescoates]

via Twitter https://twitter.com/jdaviescoates

[themerchantfox]

New at The Merchant Fox: crafted by a Master Silversmith, these eye-catching cufflinks are made from sterling silver with a 9ct gold plating. They feature a beautifully cast British bee. A specially designed swivel back ensures that dressing is always a pleasure #cufflinks #mensaccessories #mastersilversmith #9ctgold #britishbee