Bee Happy

They’re the inspiration for our new basket bag – here’s why bees really are nature’s heroes and why we need to save them.


What bees do
We’ve got a lot to thank our furry black and yellow friends for. “Honey isn’t the only thing bees give us”, says Greenpeace. “They also provide us with food by pollinating a huge range of crops, not to mention wild plants.” Unfortunately, like so many other parts of the natural world, bees are at risk thanks to climate change and the way we produce our food.

According to Greenpeace’s stats, there are a staggering 20,000 different species of bee found all over the world. In the UK, we have about 270 species, including honey bees, and they’re responsible for pollinating 80% of our wildflowers. They also pollinate important crops like apples, beans, squashes and almonds. So they’re basically helping the world eat. For free.



Why bees are important
It’s quite a stark reality that if bees disappear, we’d have big problems producing enough food. So it’s worrying that, like many other insects, bee numbers are plummeting. Greenpeace says “A third of UK bees have disappeared in the last 10 years and a quarter of European species are at risk of extinction.”
The most significant threat to bees and other insects is the loss of their natural habitat. Bees and other pollinators rely on wildflower meadows for food and shelter but intensive farming and urban development has removed many of these meadows, along with other wildlife-friendly features such as hedgerows, water meadows and ponds. Climate change and the widespread use of agricultural chemicals are also having a negative impact.



What we can do to help the bees?
A good place to start is to check out the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) How To Bee Friendly’ guide Just on the name alone, it had us hooked!
To get started, WWF suggests we:

1. Grow a bee friendly garden
“Plant a range of flowers in your garden so bees have access to nectar from March to October. You can use the winter season to plan a garden full of nectar-rich plants that bees can forage come spring. Bees love traditional cottage garden flowers and native wildflowers, like primrose, buddleia, and marigolds.”

2. Treat bees to some sugar
“A tired bee really does like a tiny hit of sugar (never honey!) Mix two teaspoons of white granulated sugar with one teaspoon of water and put it on a plate or drip it on a flower, to revive a tired bee.”

3. Get to know your bees
Get to know the bees in your garden and in the green spaces around you by downloading WWF’s bee identification chart.
4. Eat sustainable honey
“Is honey good or bad for bees? When done right, bee farming can be beneficial for wild populations and still allow you to enjoy honey. When choosing honey - try to go for something local, from individual beekeepers who practice sustainability.”

Introducing the Lulu Beehive
Our homage to our buzzy friends comes in the form of our hive shaped woven bag. Inspired by a beehive, echoing Lulu’s love of nature, this Queen Bee Basket Bag is made from handmade cord with playful embroidered bee detailing. It’s the ultimate summer personality piece. Remove the lid and discover 3D appliqué flowers inside and a ‘Queen Bee’ monogram just for you.