We are supporting biodiversity by sponsoring a beehive containing an amazing 40,000 bees at Hinton-in-the-Hedges, just outside Brackley, Northamptonshire.
As part of our social values and commitment to caring for the environment, we have partnered with Bees ‘n’ Business, a local business specialising in the supply, establishment and management of sponsored bee colonies.
The tie-up came about through Sales Manager Alan Smith, pictured, who lives in Brackley and was keen to find a practical way for the company to support an environmental initiative close to home.
Bees are important pollinators, helping plants to reproduce by transferring pollen between flowers. This supports wildflowers and wider ecosystems as well as crops and food production.
The UK’s pollinators face a number of pressures. Government and conservation data identifies factors such as habitat loss and degradation, reduced availability of food sources, pesticide use, pollution, pests and disease, and climate and weather changes.
Data published this year from the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme, published by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, shows that bumblebee abundance recorded through 1km pan-trap surveys fell by around 27% between 2017 and 2024. Honeybees and other bee groups have shown similar trends depending on the survey method.
The data highlights the importance of habitat. Many wildlife habitats have declined in extent or quality due to land-use change and agricultural intensification, reducing floral resources and other resources needed by pollinators. Targeted habitat creation and restoration can, however, have positive effects.
Pollination is important not just for biodiversity but also for the UK food system. The government estimates the financial contribution of pollinators to agriculture and food production at more than £500 million a year.
For ODCGIS, sponsoring a hive provides a practical opportunity to support bees while encouraging greater awareness of the role pollinators play in the environment.
Alan Smith said: “Having Bees ‘n’ Business local to where I live in Brackley made this a really natural partnership for us. And with around 40,000 bees in the hive, there’s certainly plenty of activity going on. We’re looking forward to seeing what our 40,000 new colleagues get up to.”
Bees ‘n’ Business works with organisations to establish and manage sponsored hives, providing ongoing care for the colony and opportunities for businesses to follow and share the story of their bees.