When my father, David, and I first set out to build Buckley’s Bees, our vision was fuelled by an absolute, lifelong passion for apiculture and an evidence-based belief in the extraordinary role the honeybee plays in our world. As a family, we hold over eighty years of collective beekeeping experience. My dad is the eldest surviving member of the Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders’ Association (BIBBA) and beekeeping is quite literally in my DNA. After studying agri-business at Harper Adams University and working in the corporate sector, I saw a vital opportunity: to bridge the gap between corporate sustainability goals and genuine, scientific pollinator conservation.
We were thrilled to see this mission featured nationally in The Daily Express, highlighting how our corporate hive management and education scheme is delivering a genuine, planet-saving bonus across the UK.
Our Core Aims
- Sustainably reverse the decline of the native honeybee population in the UK.
- Raise the profile and importance of the honeybee within the ecosystem.
- Enhance the viability and success of natural pollination and other pollinators.
- Holistically maximise and balance the environment, habitat, and health of the bees.
- Create engagement and green employment opportunities.
- Educate people and encourage future generations of traditional beekeepers.
The Power of Local Breeding vs Imports
At the very heart of Buckley’s Bees is our dedicated queen and colony breeding programme. We are deeply committed to reversing the decline of the native British black honeybee (Apis mellifera mellifera).
Unlike some operations, we never dilute our stock with imported bees. While imports are often used across the industry to artificially spike honey production rates, they disrupt the local ecological balance and frequently result in more aggressive, unstable colonies. Not to mention the significant risk of introducing foreign pests and diseases. By breeding our own queens locally, we ensure superb health, excellent hygiene and high winter survival rates. More than that, we select for gentle, docile traits. It is because of this careful, patient breeding that my dad rarely ever needs to wear gloves when he is handling our bees—they are an absolute joy to look after!
Through our growing network of dedicated freelance beekeepers, we are establishing pockets of these resilient, native hives all across the countryside.
Bridging the Gap for Modern Businesses
The environmental message is finally being taken to heart and forward-thinking firms are realising that a balanced ecosystem is the ultimate foundation for a sustainable future. We make engaging with nature entirely accessible for businesses, whether they have the physical space to host an active apiary on-site or choose to sponsor a hive remotely. Today, our wonderful corporate clients include the likes of Taylor Wimpey, organic pioneers Yeo Valley and Bentley Motors.
To host a managed hive, all a business needs is a relatively flat and stable surface in a temperate spot, protected from severe frost and damp. From there, our expert team handles the rest:
- Full Hive Management: We supply the hives (crafted entirely from sustainably sourced wood) and provide year-round expert care.
- Foraging Balance: We monitor local flora to ensure excellent food levels for our bees and neighbouring wild pollinators, always maintaining a healthy ecological balance.
- Employee Engagement: We run tailored beekeeping courses and hands-on hive experiences that get staff up close with the colonies—providing a massive boost to colleague welfare and team connection.
While the honey our bees produce is incredibly popular, it is never the core focus of what we do. Our motivation has never been profit; it is a genuine desire to drive education and awareness.
Bringing the Hive into the Community
Beyond the corporate world, our BEEcause campaign takes this vital message directly to schools, organisations and local communities. We regularly load up our purpose-built observation hive – a safe, completely transparent structure containing a living, working colony – and head out to agricultural shows, festivals, and classrooms.
Watching a child or an employee see a live colony at work for the first time opens a massive doorway. It allows us to demonstrate the exact mechanics of pollination using real flowers and props, showing people how seamlessly our entire ecosystem is woven together.
When people ask us how they can support local beekeepers in their everyday lives, our advice is always simple: buy local honey. Avoid the mass-produced, heat-treated supermarket blends that have had their natural goodness stripped away. By sourcing raw honey directly from a local apiary, you preserve the natural nutritional benefits and directly support the people doing the quiet, vital work of keeping our skies buzzing.
Bring a New Buzz to Your Business
Are you ready to elevate your company’s sustainability credentials and give your team an infectious connection to the natural world? Whether you wish to host an apiary on your grounds or fund a native hive through our corporate sponsorship scheme, we would love to welcome you on board.
Explore Corporate Hive Packages or get in touch with our Crewe team today to discover how your business can play a hands-on role in safeguarding the future of the British bee.