The Buzz About World Bee Day: Vital for Food and Drink

In a world where culinary delights and refreshing beverages play an integral role in our lives, it’s easy to overlook the humble heroes that make it all possible: Bees. 

Every 20th of May, World Bee Day reminds us of the vital importance of bees and other pollinators in our food and drink ecosystem. 

This day, designated by the United Nations, is a call to action to protect these tiny, yet mighty, creatures. Let’s look at why World Bee Day is crucial and how it impacts our sustenance.

The Unsung Heroes of Pollination

Bees, particularly honeybees, are paramount to pollination, a process essential for the reproduction of many plants. About 75% of the world's food crops rely on pollinators. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds – foods that form the cornerstone of a healthy diet – owe their existence to these industrious insects. Without bees, our diet would be bland, lacking the variety and nutrition we currently enjoy.

A Toast to Bees: Their Role in Beverages

It’s not just our food that benefits from bee pollination. Bees also contribute to the production of several beverages. For instance, coffee, one of the world's most popular drinks, benefits from bee pollination, leading to better yields and improved quality. The same goes for tea, which requires the pollination of flowering plants. Moreover, the honey used in various drinks and cocktails is a direct product of the bees’ hard work.

The Economic Impact

Bees have a significant economic impact as well. The global crop production attributable to pollinators is valued at hundreds of billions of pounds annually. Farmers depend on bees to maintain crop yields and quality, which in turn affects market prices and food availability. The decline in bee populations, therefore, poses a substantial threat to food security and economic stability.

Threats to Bee Populations

Despite their importance, bees face numerous threats. Habitat loss, climate change, pesticides, and diseases have all contributed to the decline in bee populations. Intensive farming practices have reduced the availability of forage for bees, while climate change has altered flowering times and food availability. Pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, have been shown to have detrimental effects on bee health, impacting their ability to forage and reproduce.

What Can We Do?

World Bee Day serves as a reminder that we all have a role to play in protecting bees. Here are some actions we can take:

Support Sustainable Farming: Choose products from farms that use sustainable practices. Organic farming, for example, avoids harmful pesticides and provides a healthier environment for bees.

Plant Bee-Friendly Gardens: Fill your garden with a variety of flowering plants that bloom at different times of the year to provide a consistent food source for bees.

Reduce Pesticide Use: If you must use pesticides, opt for those that are less harmful to bees and apply them in the evening when bees are less active.

Support Local Beekeepers: Buy honey and other bee products from local beekeepers who use sustainable practices. This supports local economies and encourages environmentally friendly beekeeping.

Celebrating World Bee Day

World Bee Day is not just about raising awareness; it’s also about celebrating the incredible contributions of bees to our food and drink. Host a bee-themed garden party, visit a local beekeeper, or simply enjoy a meal rich in bee-pollinated foods. By celebrating bees, we can foster a greater appreciation for their role in our ecosystem and inspire action to protect them.

In conclusion, World Bee Day is a vital reminder of the indispensable role bees play in our food and drink. From pollinating the crops that fill our plates to enhancing the beverages we enjoy, bees are integral to our sustenance and well-being. Let’s take this day to honour these remarkable creatures and commit to actions that ensure their survival for generations to come.

The Bee Conservancy has ten ways you can help save the bees:- 

https://thebeeconservancy.org/10-ways-to-save-the-bees

Wildlife Trusts also have some good ideas:-

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/savingbees

And the British Beekeepers’ Association wants us to help save the bees of the UK:-

https://www.bbka.org.uk/appeal/save-the-bees

Salcombe Brewery Co. Announces Donation to the Seahorse Trust from beer sales

Salcombe Brewery Co. is absolutely delighted to be able to reveal that it has just awarded over £2,000 to The Seahorse Trust, the money having been raised via donations for every bottle of its Seahorse beer that it sold.

Jordan Mace, who, in our opinion, has the wonderful and enviable job of being the MD at Salcombe Brewery Co., explains: “The surrounding coastal environment has always been hugely important to Salcombe Brewery Co. 

"The Salcombe Estuary is one of the few places in the UK where you can find the rarer of the two species of seahorse and we partnered with The Seahorse Trust four years ago to raise funds to support these endangered creatures. 

"We give a regular donation to The Seahorse Trust and are pleased to be handing over another £2,032.32 this month. This money was raised by making a donation of 5p from every bottle of Seahorse beer that was sold.”

The Seahorse Trust was founded back in 1999 by Neil Garrick-Maidment to preserve and conserve the natural world, especially the marine environment, with the seahorse as its flagship species. The Trust makes a genuine difference through education, conservation and campaigning for protected areas. 

Neil explains: “Salcombe Brewery Co. has been really incredibly supportive of our work over the last four years. Their regular donations are an invaluable resource for our much-needed conservation work.”

Salcombe Brewery's range of beers is available nationally in pubs and hospitality venues, plus through  retailers and online direct from from www.salcombebrewery.com. 

If you are a venue or retailer wanting to retail Salcombe ales, it's available to the trade directly and through a number of key wholesalers. For further information on Salcombe Brewery Co. please visit www.salcombebrewery.com follow Salcombe Brewery Co. on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

(PICTURED L to R, Jordan Mace, Managing Director of Salcombe Brewery Co., Neil Garrick-Maidment, Founder of The Seahorse Trust, Sam Beaman, Head Brewer of  Salcombe Brewery Co.)

To learn more about the fantastic work of The Seahorse Trust please visit them here https://www.theseahorsetrust.org

Aldi to back nationwide clean beach project

The Aldi supermarket company is backing the Marine Conservation Society’s Beachwatch programme with a very helpful £50,000 in sponsorship.

As a result, Aldi has become the biggest corporate funder of the Marine Conservation Society’s beach cleaning and litter survey project, Beachwatch, which aims to support over 15,000 volunteers to participate in 1,200 local beach cleans over the coming year.

And what's more, Aldi colleagues are eager and ready to join the thousands of volunteers across the UK with an overall target to remove in excess of half a million (500,000) items of litter.

Aldi’s support for the project will be launched in Brighton on 26th September, with further beach cleans taking place throughout 2024.

Liz Fox, who is Aldi's Sustainability Director in the UK, said: “We are really pleased to be able to support the Marine Conservation Society to create positive change for the UKs seas.

“We're obviously aware that making significant changes does take time, but through our commitments we are working towards improving the environment for everyone.”

Katherine Stephenson, who is the Director of Fundraising at the Marie Conservation Society, added: “We’re obviously delighted to have the support of Aldi and we can’t wait to get out on the beach with their team and members of the public, too.

“Our partnership with Aldi means we now have the capability to undertake beach cleans year-round and collect valuable data that makes a big difference in keeping our seas safer for people, wildlife and for our future generations.”

To learn more about the Marine Conservation Society’s Beachwatch programme and volunteer at your local beach clean, visit:  https://www.mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/join-a-beach-clean

Last year, 2022, Aldi UK partnered with Project UK, an initiative dedicated to fostering a sustainable future for UK fisheries, with a focus on protecting ecosystems, habitats and endangered species.

Dr Alastair Leake Receives National Agricultural Award for Leading The Allerton Project

Dr Leake and Andrew Wraith

"He has made an extraordinary contribution to British agriculture through his work leading The Allerton Project"

The Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) has awarded its 2023 National Agricultural Award to Dr Alastair Leake, who is the director of policy at the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT). 

The award recognises his outstanding contribution to British agriculture through his work leading The Allerton Project, a research and demonstration farm in Leicestershire that showcases how commercial farming and high levels of biodiversity can co-exist peacefully.

Dr Leake received the award from Andrew Wraith, Head of Food & Farming at Savills, at a ceremony held at the Royal Windsor Estate, courtesy of His Majesty the King. 

The award is given annually to an individual who has made a significant impact on the advancement of agriculture in the UK.

Dr Leake has been at the helm of The Allerton Project for 22 years, overseeing and leading ground-breaking research on the effects of different farming methods on biodiversity. The Allerton farm is one of the DEFRA Sustainable Intensification Demonstration Platforms and has attracted thousands of visitors, including farmers, policymakers, researchers, and students, who have learned from its innovative practices.

The award judges praised Dr. Leake for his tireless efforts to discover and communicate how agricultural production systems can allow for high levels of food production and biodiversity to occur simultaneously. 

David Grint, CEO of the Royal Agricultural Society, said “We were delighted to present Alastair with the RASE National Agricultural Award. He has made an extraordinary contribution to British agriculture through his work leading The Allerton Project, which has done so much to pioneer and popularise ways of farming with nature.”

At a when intensive agriculture has too often been associated with environmental degradation, Dr Leake has shown how farming with nature can benefit both farmers and wildlife.

Dr Leake said he was “humbled, honoured and thrilled” to receive the award. “I have been fortunate to have worked alongside some outstanding colleagues through my 30 years of involvement with agricultural and environmental trials."

He commented, “the incredibly generous gift of the Loddington Estate by the Late Lord and Lady Allerton and their vision for the Allerton Project has inspired all of us. Never before has it been so important for us to find ways to grow our food and protect nature and the environment simultaneously.”

Urban Rhino Gin a Massive Tonic for Rhino Charity

Urban Rhino premium London dry gin has launched a formal agreement to make a UK-based rhino charity, Waterberg Rhino UK, which supports The Rhino Orphanage in South Africa, its main beneficiary.

And if it wasn't for Waterberg Rhino UK then the gin might not even exist. Because it's all thanks to a lunch on “table 8” at a traditional old English pub!

Explains Waterberg Rhino UK trustee Belinda Chaffer: “Just a few short months ago I was delighted to meet Pete Richardson, one of the co-founders of The Rhino Orphanage in the Waterberg , which is a place very dear to our hearts.

“Pete lived in South Africa but came back home in 2018 after ten years during which time he helped establish the orphanage of which he is still an active director.

“During our first meeting, at Table 8 at The Five Bells in Wickham (A wonderful English country pub), I mentioned we have previously been supported by a gin brand and it was a shame the business was possibly closing as the founders were emigrating and had other life challenges facing them.

“Following my introduction, Pete spoke to the guys concerned and the big news is Pete's taken over majority ownership of The White Rhino Gin Company Ltd!”

And now URBAN RHINO premium London Dry Gin is once again available to buy online, with Pete and his team committing to support Waterberg Rhino UK and The Rhino Orphanage in South Africa, with 10% of the profits from sales of the gin.

With only six botanicals, the gin recipe embodies simplicity and high-quality craftsmanship, and every sip of Urban Rhino Gin is a toast to the generosity, fun, authenticity, and the power to be changemakers.

Pete says: “It's thanks to Waterberg Rhino UK Urban Rhino gin can now hopefully flourish and grow, and we do have some lofty ambitions.

“If it wasn't for Waterberg Rhino UK then Urban Rhino gin would probably not exist today, and as a co-founder of the world's first rhino orphanage I'm truly delighted to be able to support the charity and The Rhino Orphanage for all the amazing work it does.”

Please check out these websites: www.urban-rhino.com and https://waterbergrhino.org.uk 

(That's Food and Drink suggests you lay a few bottles down for your Christmas cocktails!)