All this week we’re celebrating Love Parks Week 2026, an annual campaign by Keep Britain Tidy to celebrate parks and green spaces, the amazing people who care for them and their many benefits.

Great parks aren’t just good for people, they also act as critical refuge for wildlife, including bees! We have our own apiary in the grounds of our Bournville office that’s looked after by the Bournville Beekeepers. We spoke with Bournville beekeepers Ian and Colin to get the lowdown on all things bee-related!

Tell us a little bit about the Bournville Beekeepers?
Bournville Beekeepers was founded by us, Colin and Ian. We have been friends for more than 35 years and both worked for Cadbury. Colin’s passion for beekeeping began at an early age, and as a highly experienced beekeeper, he introduced Ian to the hobby when we shared an allotment in Bournville and placed a colony there. From that moment, Ian was hooked.
Over time, we became increasingly concerned about the challenges facing honeybees and other pollinators, particularly the number of colonies being destroyed during swarming. We decided to focus on rescuing and rehoming these colonies, but quickly found that our own gardens could not accommodate the growing number of bees needing help. In 2012, Bournville Village Trust kindly provided us with an apiary site at 350 Bournville Lane, and later a second site at Rowheath. In 2015, Simon Beckett of Beckett’s Farm provided a third apiary, which we use as a quarantine and assessment site before relocating colonies to our main apiaries. Creating Bournville Beekeepers allowed us to formalise our work, support our activities financially, and expand our educational outreach. We are a not-for-profit organisation, and all income from honey sales and experience days is reinvested into the rescue, care and management of bee colonies.

Why are good-quality parks and open spaces so important to bees?
Good-quality parks and open spaces play a vital role in supporting bees and other pollinators. While honeybees obtain much of their nectar and pollen from trees and hedgerows, there is often a gap in forage availability during early summer, between the end of tree blossom and the abundance of flowering plants later in the season. Parks help bridge this gap by providing valuable sources of nectar and pollen from plants such as white clover and dandelions. They are also important habitats for many other pollinators, including bumblebees, butterflies and moths. Well-planted borders and flower beds can make a significant difference too. When choosing plants, gardeners can look for varieties displaying the “Perfect for Pollinators” logo to help provide food sources throughout the year.

What are the biggest threats bees face, and is there anything people can do in their own gardens to support them?
One of the greatest threats facing bees is the use of insecticides. Many people will have heard of neonicotinoids, which can have devastating effects on bee populations and entire colonies. Use of pesticides at home should be kept to an absolute minimum or eradicated where possible. Another major concern is the spread of the Asian hornet. This invasive predator has already caused significant damage to bee populations across parts of Europe and has now been detected in the UK. Organisations such as the National Bee Unit and local beekeeping groups actively monitor and report sightings to help prevent its establishment. Gardeners can support bees by planting pollinator-friendly flowers, avoiding the use of pesticides where possible, and allowing some areas of their gardens to grow naturally. Even small spaces, window boxes and containers can provide valuable forage for pollinators.

What do you love most about being a beekeeper?
What fascinates us most is the remarkable way bees function as a single, highly organised colony. Their communication, teamwork and ability to thrive collectively are truly extraordinary. We enjoy sharing our passion with others. Introducing people to the world of bees and helping them understand the important role pollinators play in our food supply and environment is one of the most rewarding aspects of beekeeping.

Are there any common misconceptions about bees and if so, what are they?
One of the most common misconceptions is that swarming bees are dangerous. In reality, a swarm is usually at its least aggressive stage. When a colony swarms, the old queen leaves with a large proportion of the worker bees to establish a new home. Before leaving, the bees fill themselves with honey reserves to sustain them while they search for a suitable nesting site. Their focus is on protecting the queen and finding a new home, not defending territory. If left undisturbed, swarms are usually calm and will often move on within a short period once a suitable location has been found.

Do you run any events or activities that I can join in with?
We normally run a series of Apiary Experience Sessions between April and June, giving members of the public the opportunity to see working bee colonies up close and learn more about beekeeping. Unfortunately, due to significant colony losses, we had to cancel our 2026 programme and refund all bookings and gift vouchers. We are currently rebuilding our stocks and hope to resume our educational activities during the 2027 season. Beyond our experience days, we also engage with community groups and organisations to raise awareness of the importance of bees and pollinators and to promote good environmental practices.