Building a Brighter Future for Native Bees: Our Partnership with Taylor Wimpey

Buckleys Bees and Taylor Wimpey

Taylor Wimpey logoThere is an old saying in apiculture that a society thrives when it learns to live in harmony with the land. For over eighty years, we have watched the British countryside change, and with it, the fortunes of our native honeybees. Reversing their decline isn’t a task we can do alone, it requires forward-thinking partners who look at a piece of land and see an opportunity to give back to nature.

That is why we are absolutely delighted to share a wonderful new collaboration with Taylor Wimpey Logistics, who have invested to support the recovery of the UK’s native bee species in a truly practical, sustainable way.

 

Buckleys Bees and Taylor Wimpey

Bringing Bees to New Communities

Once these colonies are fully established and thriving, they will do far more than just produce honey. They will be used to help stock hives placed directly onto suitable new Taylor Wimpey housing developments.

Integrating beehives into modern developments is an innovative, vital step toward enhancing natural pollination and boosting local ecosystems. It ensures that as our human communities grow, our pollinator pathways grow right alongside them. It is all part of a broader commitment to biodiversity; since 2021, Taylor Wimpey has integrated over 5,000 wildlife enhancements across the UK, from hedgehog highways and bug hotels to bat boxes.

Reflecting on the partnership, Andrew McCloy, Sustainability Champion at Taylor Wimpey Logistics, noted:

“This partnership is a brilliant example of how sustainability can be woven into the housebuilding process and how Taylor Wimpey and Buckley’s Bees are helping to create vibrant, nature-rich communities, where both people and pollinators can thrive.”

 

A Collective Effort for Our Ecosystem

Every single hive sponsored is a victory for the ecosystem. Partnerships like this do not just protect and grow bee numbers; they play a massive role in our wider mission to educate the public and raise awareness about the essential role that all bees and pollinating insects play in our world.

As our CEO, Emma Buckley, shared at the launch of the project:

“Support like this not only helps us protect and grow bee populations, but also raises awareness of the essential role that all bees, and other pollinating insects, play in our ecosystem. We’re excited to see these thriving colonies placed on developments — an innovative step towards boosting biodiversity and ensuring a stronger future for our native bees.”

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the team at Taylor Wimpey Logistics for their dedication to the environment. We look forward to watching these new colonies settle into their surroundings over the coming months, doing the quiet, vital work that keeps our countryside beautiful and alive.

 

Join Us: Is Your Business Ready to Create a Buzz?

We aren’t motivated by profit—we are driven by a genuine, passionate desire to make a lasting difference to the British countryside. But to sustainably reverse the decline of our native honeybee, we need more hands on the hive.

By sponsoring a Buckley’s Bees hive, your business can play a direct role in:

  • Nurturing native colonies bred for resilience and local suitability.
  • Enhancing natural pollination to support wild flora and agriculture.
  • Creating green employment and funding educational programs for future generations of beekeepers.

Whether you have surplus materials to donate like Taylor Wimpey, land suitable for a hive, or simply want to fund a colony to offset your environmental footprint, we would love to welcome you on board.

Get in Touch Today to find out how your business can sponsor a hive and help save the British bee. Let’s build a nature-rich future, together.

Family Businesses Uniting for Biodiversity: Our Partnership with C&C Catering Equipment

Over my father David’s lifetime of more than eighty years in apiculture, our family has learned that the most resilient partnerships are built on shared values. When two independent, family-run businesses come together with a genuine, heartfelt desire to look after the land, the positive impact ripples across the entire local environment.

That is why I am absolutely delighted to celebrate our partnership with C&C Catering Equipment Ltd. Based right here in the North West, the C&C family has stepped up to enhance their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by sponsoring three brand-new beehives in our dedicated apiary in Hough, Crewe.

 

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 wider ecosystem.
  • Enhance the viability and success of natural pollination and other wild 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.

 

C&C Catering Equipment Matthew Kitchin with the C&G Bee hive

A Passion for the Native British Honeybee

At Buckley’s Bees, we are not motivated by profit margins; we are driven by a profound, life-long belief in the amazing role of the honeybee and the good they do in the world. As registered members of the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) and the Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders’ Association (BIBBA), our mission is scientifically grounded: we work to protect and sustainably propagate the native British honeybee (Apis mellifera mellifera), breeding for gentle, hardy and hygienic traits.

When corporate partners like C&C sponsor a hive, they are directly funding this vital conservation work. It was a deeply personal highlight for me when I was able to show off the freshly painted, branded C&C hives to their Commercial Director, Matthew Kitchin, at my wedding in July!

Reflecting on his visit to our farm HQ, Matthew shared:

“It’s amazing to see first-hand the work that Emma & her Dad, David, do for the future of British Bees. The passion and dedication to their work is so inspiring and their efforts to support the declining native honeybee population is so admirable. I learnt so much about bees and just how much they contribute to our society when I went on a beekeeping experience day at their farm HQ.”

 

The True Value of Natural Pollination

Educating people about the staggering ecological and economic weight these insects carry is half the battle. Many people are surprised to learn that around one-third of the food we consume relies directly on insect pollination. Without the quiet, tireless work of bees, it would cost UK farmers an estimated £1.8 billion per year to pollinate crops artificially.

By funding managed apiaries, local businesses help us maintain a balanced habitat where managed colonies and wild pollinators can coexist without overcrowding. This ensures the survival of our native flora and supports the birds, mammals and insects that rely on a healthy ecosystem.

Getting the support of local companies like C&C is incredibly important to us. It allows us to keep our focus exactly where it belongs: on education, habitat balance, and scientific research. We are deeply grateful to Matt, Peter and the entire team at C&C Catering Equipment for rolling up their sleeves and joining us on this journey. We cannot wait to welcome their broader staff back to the farm for a hands-on experience day to get up close with the hives!

 

Align Your Business with Nature

Is your company looking to make a measurable, passionate investment in British biodiversity? Sponsoring an apiary or hosting a Buckley’s Bees hive on your land is a brilliant way to boost your green credentials, fund vital pollinator research and provide unforgettable educational experiences for your team.

Explore Corporate Sponsorship Packages or get in touch with our team today to help us save the British bee.

Designing for Nature: Our Collaboration with Tilia Homes at Tanton Fields

Tilia Homes logoWhen we look at the modern landscape, it is easy to see the growth of towns and housing developments as a challenge for our natural world. But over my family’s lifetime of more than eighty years in apiculture, we have learned that development does not have to mean destruction. If a homebuilder looks at a piece of land and genuinely prioritises the surrounding ecology, human communities and natural habitats can thrive side-by-side.

That is why I am absolutely delighted to highlight our brilliant collaboration with Tilia Homes. As part of their deep commitment to biodiversity and wildlife preservation, we teamed up with them to introduce a managed native beehive to their beautiful development, The Bluebells at Tanton Fields, in Stokesley.

 

A Safe Haven for the British Black Bee

Last year, Tilia Homes reached out to our team to help them bring a meaningful environmental asset to their green open spaces. We were proud to establish a brand-new hive on-site, which quickly became a bustling, healthy home for some 60,000 native bees and their Queen during the summer months.

As registered members of the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) and the Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders’ Association (BIBBA), our work is entirely focused on the sustainable propagation of the native British honeybee (Apis mellifera mellifera). These bees are naturally adapted to our unpredictable British weather, making them incredibly hardy and resilient. By choosing to host a Buckley’s Bees hive, Tilia Homes did not just add a decorative feature to their site—they directly supported the genetic preservation of a species in crisis.

Our unique business model functions as a fully managed service, which means we handle every aspect of the colony’s health, mapping out local flora to ensure our honeybees live in perfect ecological balance with local wild pollinators without overcrowding the area. To look after the hives on a national scale, we employ a wonderful network of local freelance beekeepers, allowing us to generate green employment and provide vital hands-on training to the next generation of traditional beekeepers.

 

Connecting Communities to the Land

Hosting an active colony on a residential development does something magical: it brings nature directly to people’s doorsteps. Residents and visitors at Tanton Fields get to see these incredible insects working tirelessly every day. More than that, they get to enjoy the sweet, tangible rewards of their efforts—a delicious, raw honey carrying the distinct, bespoke flavour of the Stokesley flora our bees pollinate.

 

A Holistic Approach to Wildlife

What makes working with a considerate builder like Tilia Homes so rewarding is their holistic view of conservation. Bees cannot survive without a diverse, healthy environment, and Tilia has gone the extra mile to craft a rich tapestry of wildlife enhancements across their developments:

  • Wildflower Meadows: At developments like Landimore Park and Verdant Rise, they have established dedicated wildflower meadows within their public open spaces—providing a massive, continuous larder of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies and insects.
  • BioScapes® NatureArks: Alongside our hives, their teams have installed unique wildlife planters and ‘bug hotels’ to offer safe nesting sites for hundreds of smaller critters and beetles.
  • Ecology Buffer Zones: At their Montgomery Place site, they have integrated a 20-metre ‘no-build’ ecology buffer, specialized badger corridors, hedgehog-friendly fencing and built-in sparrow bricks and bird boxes.

 

How You Can Create a Haven at Home

Our motivation at Buckley’s Bees has never been profit-driven; it is a genuine, lifelong desire to safeguard the British countryside and educate our communities. Reversing the decline of our pollinators is a collective effort and you do not need acres of land to help.

If you want to support our native honeybees and wild pollinators this summer, you can take simple, impactful steps in your own garden. Plant nectar-rich, bee-friendly flowers like lavender, borage and foxgloves. Leave a small patch of grass to grow long, allowing dandelions and clover to flower. You can even build a simple bug hotel out of old wooden pallets, bricks and hollow bamboo canes to give local insects a safe refuge.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the visionary team at Tilia Homes for inviting us to be a part of their conservation journey. By weaving nature into the very fabric of our housing developments, we are building a brighter, healthier and much more sustainable future for both people and pollinators alike.

 

Bring Biodiversity to Your Next Project

Are you a commercial developer, asset manager, or local landowner looking to deliver meaningful, long-term sustainability and CSR targets? Hosting or sponsoring a fully managed Buckley’s Bees hive is a scientifically backed way to enhance natural pollination, support vital pollinator research and connect your local community with the natural world.

Explore Our Corporate Hive Packages or get in touch with our team today to discover how we can help you create a lasting space for nature.

Bridging Business and Biodiversity: A Landmark Partnership with Softcat

One of the Buckley's Bee hive that Softcat sponsor.

At Buckley’s Bees, we’ve spent over 80 years listening to the hum of the hive. We’ve seen the seasons shift and the challenges mount for our native pollinators. Our mission has always been clear: to reverse the decline of the honeybee through education, sustainable breeding and holistic environmental management.

But we cannot do it alone. It takes visionary partners to turn the tide, which is why we are so proud to announce our recent collaboration with Softcat.

A Hive for Every Office: Softcat and Buckley’s Bees Partner for the Planet

In a significant commitment to environmental stewardship, Softcat has sponsored ten beehives – one to represent each of their regional offices. This isn’t just a badge on a website; it is a living, breathing investment in the UK’s biodiversity.

By sponsoring these colonies, Softcat is helping us bolster the population of native honeybees, ensuring that these “keystone species” continue to provide the essential pollination services that support one out of every three mouthfuls of food we eat.

“Working with likeminded companies like Softcat is wonderful. Individuals and businesses that share a passion for the good that bees do can truly create a catalyst for positive change.” — Emma Buckley, Director of Buckley’s Bees

One of the Buckley's Bee hive that Softcat sponsor.

Why Softcat Chose the Bees

For Softcat, this partnership aligns with their priority Sustainable Development Goals. As Rachel Moorthy, Softcat’s Sustainability Executive, rightly noted, bees are the perfect “biodiversity champions” because their impact is felt in every corner of the country.

Our partnership focuses on three key pillars:

  1. Ecological Health: Supporting ten colonies of home-bred honeybees.
  2. Scientific Research: Funding vital academic studies into the symbiotic relationship between soil fertility, plant health and bee vitality.
  3. Social Legacy: Creating engagement opportunities to pass the ancient trade of beekeeping on to the next generation.

More Than Just Honey

While the promise of “office honey” is a sweet perk, the real value lies in the “Bee Involved” philosophy. Through this sponsorship, Softcat employees gain:

  • Direct Engagement: Opportunities to visit our apiary and see their bees in action.
  • Education: A deeper understanding of how their specific hives are making a tangible difference in the local ecosystem.
  • Visibility: A personalised plaque on each hive, marking their dedication to the environment.

 

A Message to the Business Community

You don’t need a sprawling garden or a rooftop garden to save the bees. If your business is unable to host a hive on-site, sponsorship offers a way to contribute to the survival of the species without the need for physical infrastructure.

As we look ahead through 2023 and beyond, we hope Softcat’s leadership inspires other organisations to recognise that protecting the honeybee isn’t just about saving an insect, it’s about securing the future of our food systems and our natural world.

Are you ready to bee the change? Join us at Buckley’s Bees as we continue our 80-year journey of protecting the heartbeat of our ecosystem.

Distilling a Taste of Cheshire: Our Honey Partnership with Three Wrens Gin

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. Having spent my entire life learning from my dad’s incredible lifetime of more than eighty years in apiculture, I know that true sustainability is about connecting people to nature in unexpected, delightful ways.

That is why we are absolutely delighted to share a wonderful local collaboration right here in South Cheshire. Our incredible bees have teamed up with the award-winning team at Three Wrens Gin in Combermere, near Nantwich, providing the signature sweet ingredient for their spectacular, gold-medal-winning London Dry Gin.

 

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 wider ecosystem.
  • Enhance the viability and success of natural pollination and other wild 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.

 

A Shared Philosophy on Provenance

Nick Wadeson founded Three Wrens Gin in 2019 out of a beautiful woodland distillery, where every single batch of gin is made entirely by hand in a traditional 50-litre copper pot still named Valerie. Nick’s dedication to quality and local provenance mirrors our own ethos perfectly. When he was developing his new London Dry Gin, he wanted to source a pure, local honey that carried the true flavour of the Cheshire countryside.

Honey has a remarkable, softening effect on gin, rounding out the botanicals and imparting a delicate, natural smoothness that sugar or artificial sweeteners simply cannot replicate. As Nick kindly shared:

“We’re really keen on provenance and Buckley’s Bees have a similar philosophy to us. Their honey is amazing and we’re delighted that they can supply us.”

We were absolutely thrilled to hear that Three Wrens London Dry Gin has just scooped a prestigious Gold Medal at the Global Gin Masters 2022. Knowing that our bees played a small part in crafting a world-class spirit is an incredibly proud moment for our family business.

 

More Than Just Sweetness: The Vital Role of Pollinators

While the honey our bees produce is undeniably popular, it is never the core focus of why we keep bees. Our motivation has never been profit; it is a genuine desire to make a difference to our environment. As registered members of the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) and the Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders’ Association (BIBBA), we support numerous scientific studies focused on the health, habitat and sustainable propagation of the native British honeybee (Apis mellifera mellifera).

Every drop of honey harvested from our hives is a testament yet again to the vast, quiet work that bees perform every single day. As pollinators, they are absolutely vital to maintaining stable, healthy and biodiverse food supplies. Without them, the vibrant wild flora and the rich agricultural crops that carpet Cheshire would struggle to survive.

Through our corporate hive management scheme and our dedicated beekeeping courses for both professionals and amateurs, we are working to ensure a perfect ecological balance is present across the region. By educating our communities and local businesses, we hope to secure a safer, blossom-rich future for all native pollinators.

We want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Nick and the entire team at Three Wrens Gin. It is a joy to work alongside fellow independent creators who respect the land as much as we do.

 

Support Local, Protect Our Pollinators

You can pick up a bottle of the award-winning Three Wrens London Dry Gin directly from their online store and you can find our raw, unpasteurised Buckley’s Bees honey stocked with wonderful independent suppliers right across the Cheshire area. By buying locally sourced honey instead of mass-produced, heat-treated supermarket blends, you are directly supporting the traditional beekeepers who look after our native environment.

Learn More About Our Beekeeping Courses or contact Emma and the team today to find out how your business can partner with us to support the British bee.