World Bee Day was celebrated on 20th April and they say that in order to be able to feed the world’s growing population, we need ever more food, which must be diverse, balanced and of good quality to ensure the progress and well-being of humankind.
Bees are renowned for their role in providing high-quality food (honey, royal jelly and pollen) and other products used in healthcare and other sectors (beeswax, propolis, honey bee venom). But the work of bees entails much more!
The greatest contribution of bees and other pollinators is the pollination of nearly three quarters of the plants that produce 90% of the world’s food. A third of the world’s food production depends on bees, i.e. every third spoonful of food depends on pollination.
Great British Beef Week – 23rd – 30th April – the 11th Great British Beef Week (GBBW). This year GBBW is focusing on recognising and highlighting British beef farmers and the work they do to support sustainable production practices on their farms. It’s due to the strides that these farmers make in this area that British beef continues to be amongst the most sustainable in the world. #GBBW2022
During GBBW Ladies in Beef will be highlighting innovative and sustainable farming methods from producers across Britain.
- Keep an eye out for #GBBW22 in your social feeds and follow our social channels – they would love to hear from you with your questions and comments (and beef recipes!). Beef farmers (including many Ladies in Beef) and food and farming organisations will be joining in the conversations and sharing their take on sustainability, sustainable beef and what it means to them
- In regional newspapers your local beef farmers will be telling their own stories
- Look out for the on-pack GBBW stickers promoting ‘enjoy British beef’ in supermarkets and promotions in butchers and farm shops
And finally, they hope you’ll join them by enjoying tucking into your favourite delicious British beef dishes. If you’re after new beef recipe ideas and cooking tips head over to www.SimplyBeefandLamb.co.uk.
Ladies in Beef have chosen the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) as their charity for GBBW again for 2022. Since being involved in this annual campaign, RABI (Charity Registration No: 208858) has organised more than 50 beef week events and raised £90,000 for farming people in need of financial support.
Jilly Greed, who co-founded Ladies in Beef with NFU president Minette Batters, and who created Great British Beef Week said: “The food industry is constantly evolving, and we wanted to demonstrate how the beef sector is progressive and to demonstrate its environmental sustainability credentials. By doing this, our aim is to reassure consumers that by continuing to buy and enjoy beef, they are acting responsibly and sustainably.”
Managing wildflower meadows… for bumblebees.
Wildflower-rich grasslands are the most important habitat for bumblebees as they provide plants throughout the summer and contain many nectar- and pollen-rich plant species. Wildflower meadows can contain up to 40 plant species per square metre. Flowers like red clover, yellow rattle, bird’s-foot-trefoil and red bartsia are great pollen sources for queen and worker bumblebees, whilst knapweed and scabious are important nectar sources.
Wildflower-rich grasslands are particularly important for our rarest bumblebees, which have long tongues so love the deep flowers of many grassland plants. Unfortunately, whilst these meadows used to be common, the majority have been lost in recent decades with changes in agricultural practices. Returning to less intensive, more traditional meadow management is much better for bumblebees as it supports a far greater variety and density of flowers. Hay meadows
also provide a nutritious and valuable feed crop. There are benefits for farmers
and land managers too, not least potential financial savings. By providing additional resources for bumblebees you may increase crop yields whilst reducing spend
on agri-chemicals. This will have numerous benefits for your land and will help to preserve biodiversity for future generations. #GBBW2022
Rowse is sending away 86,000 free packs of its honey bee seeds so hurry and grab yours now. In order to get one for yourself just follow this link then fill in your details and they will deliver it to you at your doorsteps. Feed The Bees is part of Rowse Hives for Lives mission to do all they can to protect our wonderous honey bees.
Source: Bumblebee Conservation GBBW Ladies in Beef Rowse World Bee Day
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