13 August 2023 , 17:30
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A creative florist has stepped up to tackle the issue of the UK's collapsing bee population, by crafting the world's first bee-saving bouquet. With support from Interflora and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, florist Karen White's gorgeous Beequet will be unveiled at the Interflora World Cup, set to take place in Manchester from September 7 to 9.
Handcrafted by the highly skilled team at Manchester-based florist Rodgers, where Karen works, the bright and bee-autiful Beequet is comprised of easily accessible blooms that provide the very highest counts of nectar and pollen, making pollination as easy as possible for dwindling numbers of bumblebees.
The unique bouquet, which was developed in collaboration with The Bumblebee Trust is made up of a variety of stunning flowers, including sunflowers, scabious, sedum, agapanthus, eryngium, dahlia, achillea, fresh lavender, and myrtle. This comes as new research from the trust reveals that falling bee numbers is putting 84 per cent of crops in the UK at risk, following a dramatic decline over the course of the past century.
The unique bouquet was developed in collaboration with The Bumblebee Trust (Mark Waugh Manchester Press Photography Ltd)Flower lovers will be able to take a peek at the Beequet at next month's Interflora World Cup, where the best florists in the UK will compete to create the most extraordinary floral displays possible, with a grand prize of £15,000 on the table for the winning Interflora World Champion.
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust will be among seven special guest speakers at the prestigious event, and will share findings from its latest BeeWalk Report regarding bumblebee numbers, highlighting a concerning decline of some UK bumblebees species which reached record lows in August 2022 following the July heatwave.
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Karen said: "As a Manchester native, it makes me so sad to see the humble bumblebee dropping in numbers around the UK. That's why we at Rodgers were so excited to put together the Beequet and do our bit to help bring the buzz back to our homes and gardens. We hope that any flower fans heading to the Interflora World Cup can stop by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust's talk to see the Beequet in person and hear more about what we can do to help save our fuzzy friends."
Some UK bumblebee species dropped to record lows last August (Karen White)Erica Nicholson, Senior Brand Manager at Interflora stated: "Without bees, there would be no flowers, and no Interflora World Cup, so we're delighted to work with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to create the bouquet specifically designed to promote the importance of boosting the bee population. The Beequet not only features some of the most dazzling colours and patterns featured in so many British gardens but also blooms with among the highest pollen and nectar counts.
"We're showcasing flowers that are utterly irresistible for bumblebees, it just so happens they are pretty irresistible to us too. They're the perfect choice to bring a bit of colour and energy to your garden, all while attracting those bees! For anyone looking to find out more about how to make their own garden a haven for bees, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust will be sharing their expertise at the unmissable Interflora World Cup in Manchester this September."
The flowers showcased are said to be 'utterly irresistible for bumblebees' (Mark Waugh Manchester Press Photography Ltd)Gill Perkins, CEO, from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, commented: "As a society we are increasingly dependent on pollinators, 84 per cent of all crops grown in the UK require pollination and much of the dependence is linked to wild pollinators. But some of our commonest bumblebees are in decline, the loss of 97 per cent of our wildflower meadows since 1940 has been the driver, but climate change, agricultural intensification, the increased use of pesticides, and urban spread have all played a part.
"That's why we're grateful to work so closely with Interflora, to highlight this crisis and show the nation what they can do to help restore the population. We're looking forward to the Interflora World Cup next month, where we'll be sharing even more tips and advice on how to make your gardens and outdoor spaces a sanctuary for bumblebees."
Tickets for the Interflora World Cup start from £15, and can be purchased here
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