When my father, David, and I first founded Buckley’s Bees, our goal wasn’t to build a typical commercial enterprise. Having spent my entire life learning from my dad’s incredible lifetime and more than sixty years in apiculture, our motivation has always been rooted in a deep, mutual passion for the honeybee and a genuine desire to make a lasting difference to our countryside. We wanted to create an organisation that looks after the welfare of the bees first, using decades of traditional knowledge to sustainably reverse the decline of our native honeybee population.
To see that passion recognised on a national stage is an immense honour. I am absolutely thrilled to share the news that Buckley’s Bees has been shortlisted for the Best Rural Start-Up Business at the prestigious regional Rural Business Awards, held in partnership with Amazon.
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.
Celebrating Cheshire’s Rural Economy
The Rural Business Awards, now in their seventh year, are organised by rural businesses for rural businesses. Their mission is to celebrate the vital achievements of the UK’s rural economy and develop a strong, supportive network for independent business owners who operate outside our major cities.
We are incredibly proud to represent Nantwich on the regional shortlist alongside two other fantastic Cheshire enterprises: The Lambing Shed in Knutsford (shortlisted for Best Rural Diversification Project) and Hillsgreen in Macclesfield (shortlisted for Best Rural Professional Services Business). Together, we will be flying the flag for Cheshire against some of the finest entrepreneurs and enterprises from across the region, competing for a coveted spot in the national finals.
Reflecting on the shortlisting, John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager at Amazon, shared:
“Amazon has proudly supported the Rural Business Awards since 2017 and each year, the quality of the entries gets better and better. I’d like to congratulate the Cheshire businesses for their place on the shortlist and wish them and their regional peers the best of luck at the awards.”
Driving Conservation Through Corporate Engagement
As registered members of the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) and the Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders’ Association (BIBBA), science and education sit at the absolute core of our business model. We aren’t driven by profit margins; we are driven by ecological balance. We actively support a number of scientific studies and projects focused on the health and wellbeing of bees and other pollinators and this nomination acts as a powerful validation of that work.
Our unique corporate hive management scheme allows us to bridge the gap between British businesses and hands-on conservation. By encouraging forward-thinking companies to host or sponsor managed apiaries, we are able to fund vital pollinator research, raise awareness about the essential role bees play in food security and expand native bee populations across the UK in a highly structured, ecologically responsible way.
Knowing companies like Amazon support and recognise what we are doing gives our whole team a great boost and we’re really looking forward to being part of the Regional Finals in October.
The regional finals will be held virtually on Friday, 1 October 2021, with the grand National Final taking place early next year. Win or lose, being named among the best rural businesses in the UK is a wonderful milestone for our family, our freelance beekeeping partners and the native bees we work so hard to protect.
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Rural Business Awards and Amazon for this incredible recognition and to our wonderful community here in Crewe for their unwavering support.
Create a Buzz with an Award-Winning Team
Whether you are an independent landowner or a national corporation, you can play a direct role in our mission to safeguard the British countryside. Partnering with Buckley’s Bees is a practical, rewarding way to boost local biodiversity, enhance natural pollination and connect your team with the wonders of the natural world.
Find Out More About Our Hive Packages or contact our team today to see how your business can get involved