what's our plan?

Creating wildflower meadows

We are funding the instigation of a series of food-rich main routes for pollinators.

Urban beekeeping projects

We have funded urban beekeeping projects in Manchester, London, Sheffield and Inverness.

Our research

We are funding new scientific research: to map the locations of the native British Black bee and to breed from confirmed native colonies; increase wildflowers in the UK; and into the impact of pesticides on bees.

Help people make a difference in their garden

Follow our top tips for a bee-friendly garden, patio pot or window box!

Action on pesticides

We have temporarily prohibited the use of six neonicotinoid pesticides (clothianidin, dinotefuran, fipronil, imidacloprid, nitenpyram and thiamethoxam), linked to bee declines elsewhere in Europe, on our own-brand fresh and frozen produce.

Sign our petition

In April 2010, in light of evidence that two of the neonicotinoids, acetamiprid and thiacloprid, are lower risk to bees these have been moved from prohibited to monitored status in the pesticides policy.

Increasing hives on our farms

The Co-operative Farms will increase the number of hives on its farmland from 300 to 1,300 and seek to utilise northern European strains of honeybee where possible.