Planting for Pollinators
and ‘Green Offset”

Scientists urge us all to plant for pollinators and since its inception in 2007, Bermondsey Street Bees has worked with businesses, local government, charities and community groups to create sustainable, replicable greening initiatives in more than 20 countries worldwide. Based on this experience and full of hands-on advice, Sarah’s bestselling books The Wild Bee Handbook (2023) and Planting for Honeybees (2018) are available from all good booksellers.
(See excerpts from both books below, together with a downloadable planting booklet)

Honeybees are not going extinct, because, like chickens or sheep, they are a kept species. United Nations’ hive counts show steady increase in global hive numbers since the 1960’s, now standing at over 90 million colonies. In London alone, fashion beekeeping has seen hive density reach three times higher than anywhere else in Europe, whilst the green space needed to feed them all is shrinking all the time.

Across the world, urbanisation, chemical use and big agriculture have destroyed habitat and feeding grounds for vital pollinators including bees. There are around 25,000 different bee species on earth, of which just 7 species are Honeybees. For biodiversity, all of these different bees need to co-exist and the challenge for beekeepers and for anyone interested in ecology and conservation, is maintaining balance.

As a sustainable beekeeping practice, we have responded to emerging data by significantly reducing our total hive numbers over the years and moving apiaries away from environmentally stressed areas. We use official data points to assess existing hive density and will never place colonies in places where there is insufficient forage and undue pressure will be placed on wild bee species. We also operate a ‘Green Offset’ policy, asking our clients to offset the environmental impact of their hives either through direct planting or by funding local greening charities. In new buildings this can also make a significant contribution to meeting BREEAM requirements (see also our Apicultural Consultancy services.)

The Wild Bee Handbook

Planting for Honeybees

View and download (below) a free pdf of our mini planting booklet “Planting for Honeybees”.