When 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.