Bee charity wins silver at Chelsea Flower Show

Bees for Development, the Monmouth-based beekeeping charity, won a silver medal at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022, for its ‘Hives for Lives’ display sponsored by Rowse Honey.

Winning silver at the event which opened to the public yesterday adds to their medal chest after securing a silver in 2019 and a bronze in 2021.

In line with the show’s overall theme of drawing attention to sustainable approaches to key issues, the ‘Hives for Lives’ exhibition aims to raise awareness of the life-changing power of bees to address poverty and biodiversity issues.

Designed in collaboration with garden designer Sarah Mihalop and built by EH Thorne (Beehives), the exhibit is beautiful and theatrical, incorporating plantings, materials and an overall feel that resonates with the tropical landscape inhabited by many people supported by Bees for Development and the “Hives for Lives” partnership with Rowse Honey.

“We are delighted to have received this prestigious silver award,” said Dr Nicola Bradbear, director and founder of the charity Bees for Development.

“Our exhibition this year allows us to show in an engaging way how central nature-based beekeeping plays a central role in giving people and the planet a better future.

“Our partnership with Rowse Honey and the Hives for Lives program has had wonderful results in Ethiopia,” explained Dr Bradbear, “and this stand is a celebration of the results we can achieve when we work together. We look forward to continuing our partnership in the future.

“We are very proud to sponsor the Bees for Development Hives For Lives garden and are delighted that the team has won a well-deserved silver medal,” said Kirstie Jamieson, Director of Marketing at Rowse Honey.

“Our partnership with Bees for Development has helped hundreds of local community members escape extreme poverty through beekeeping and reforest almost 100 hectares of land.

“We are excited to see what the future holds for this inspiring charity.”

Visitors to the stand this year are also invited to enter a free raffle to win a year’s supply of Rowse honey and a UK-based course of their choice from Bees for Development.