Who's helping save our bees?
Scientists
Many scientists are working hard to understand what combination of factors are causing huge decline in bee numbers. There are many researchers looking into the problems bees and insect pollinators are facing in the UK and what can be done to help. To find out more about the research being done, why not visit the websites of some of the major university departments working on this. For example;
Professor Ratnieks is the only Professor of Apiculture in the UK. He is the head of a new laboratory studying honey bees and social insects at Sussex University.
Professor Dave Goulson and Dr. Ben Darvill at the University of Stirling. This is the world's largest research group dedicated to bumblebee conservation and also home to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.
Dr Juliet Osborne at Rothamsted Research. Here research is being carried out into pollination services and the affect of farming systems.
Dr. Matt Heard and Dr Clare Carvell at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology - Wallingford. Here research is carried out into how agri-environment schemes can be used to benefit bumblebees.
The National Bee Unit in York have a range of research projects running including those looking into honey bee colony losses. They are the largest bee health group in the UK, with over 60 people working full time to improve/monitor bee health. Also see www.nationalbeeunit.com.
British Beekeepers
Without beekeepers there would be no honey bees in the UK. In the UK there are approximately 44,000 beekeepers managing around 274,000 hives. In total, these hives produce approximately 6,000 tonnes of honey a year, and each hive is worth about £600 to the UK agricultural economy.
Why not help support beekeepers by making a donation to the British Beekeepers' Association. Click here to find out more about the British Beekeepers' Association and how to donate.
Bumblebee Conservation Trust
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust aims to conserve bumblebees and the habitats that they depend on through conservation and education. It is working hard to encourage sensitive management of gardens and the wider farmed landscape to encourage healthy pollinator populations. Click here to find out more.
Rowse Honey
Rowse, the UK's favourite brand of honey, is delighted to be sponsoring the "Save our Bees" project. Over the past year Rowse Honey has been working closely with the UK beekeepers and National Farmers' Union to publicise the honeybee crisis nationwide within the media and has been lobbying the government. In October 2008 Rowse pledged £100,000 over 3 years to the only bee lab in the UK at Sussex University for research into bee health. Its call to action is supported by messaging on all jars of Rowse Blossom Honey which profile information about the honeybee crisis.
In continuation of Rowse Honey's work supporting the honeybee, last year it launched Bee School, a set of free downloadable worksheets for Key Stage 1 classes, featuring honeybees in exercises on science, art, history, geography and more; just click here and go to Bee School for additional information.
You?!
Click here to register your interest and find out how get involved. If you would like to leave a comment about this campaign and how you are getting on, please click here.
