EDITOR'S BLOG
COUNCIL SERVICES IN DECLINE
Bowling greens closing
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR
 
Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

The provision of many council run sports facilities are in decline due to budgets being eroded away - and, in some cases, slashed to the bone. 


Last week I read on one of the social platforms that several councils are closing their bowling greens because the cost of maintenance is far greater than the income received from the clubs who hire them.

 

With upkeep costs exceeding £15,000 and considering councils’ budgets have been slashed, plus parks services not being a statuary service, parks departments have no choice other than to close these facilities.


My own local authority in recent years has devolved itself of the management and maintenance of their greens, passing the responsibility on to the clubs themselves.


I actually wrote a blog on how I saw the state of bowling greens, back in 2020.

 



I do, however, understand their predicament, particularly knowing that most council sports facilities are often heavily subsidised and have been for years. With the world changing and council budgets in major decline many councils are offloading public assets to save money and resources. 
 

For many years the state of bowling club memberships has generally been in decline, with many clubs struggling to keep afloat, relying heavily on volunteers to maintain their greens and keep costs to the minimum. 

 

This can be coupled with the fact that many clubs now have fewer than 80 members, who perhaps only pay a token annual membership fee that rarely covers the cost of running the club. Over time this will have led to the closure of many fine clubs. 

 

This demise of the sport of bowls has been going on for a number of years, I personally blame Bowls England and crown green bowling governing bodies, who for many years have done very little in promoting the sport and encouraging the younger generation to participate in this skilful activity. 


However I did find an article published last year in The Times saying that Bowls England was seeking to find a new generation of players to revitalise the game. For me though, it’s too little too late. The demise of the sport has been ongoing for the past twenty years. 

 

 

I believe we need to stimulate the game by showcasing it in schools and encouraging clubs to invite pupils to come and use these local facilities on a regular basis. The sport’s governing bodies need to promote some new competitions and league structures to entice these youngsters to compete in the game. 

 

Surely a large major manufacturer or business could be encouraged to sponsor this new opportunity to stimulate the sport and get a new generation of players participating?

 

Also, the existing members should be willing to pay more for their sport and the provision of the green’s maintenance. In today’s money, the real cost of maintaining a green with appropriate end of season renovations is more likely to be in the region of £20,000. Therefore, a club with a membership of 100 people would equate to them paying a £200 per year membership fee - about £4 per week.  


Let’s hope we can see a change in attitude from the governing bodies, meaning we start to see this great sport become a popular community asset once again. 
 
Council cuts


Whist on this theme, the provision of other council run sports facilities are also in decline - again mainly due to budgets eroded away and slashed to the bone. 

 


Council run cricket facilities have all but gone – whilst football and rugby pitches are not so well maintained. The income councils generate from running these facilities is poor.  But my biggest concern is that many councils do not have the appropriate resources and skilled operators to carry out the essential maintenance work required to produce decent playing surfaces. In the main, you are lucky if the pitches even get cut and marked out.


The current state of many council run sports pitches is dreadful – which is such a shame. I have witnessed the issues council have faced in the last twenty years, which is largely due to budget cuts and the massive change in how departments are now run.


It has seriously affected the provision of natural turf facilities up and down the country. 

NEWS
WORLD DEBUT IN HYBRID PITCHES
Fully indoor surface
 
World's first in indoor hybrid pitches

In our first WEB-ONLY story a world's first took place recently when a fully indoor hybrid pitch was constructed for a high-profile football tournament.

 


INDUSTRY-FIRST, FULLY-INCLUSIVE GOLF TEACHING FACILITY CONSTRUCTED
Wheelchair accessible
 
Fully inclusive golf teaching facility

In our next WEB ONLY story, a vision for an industry first of a fully inclusive golf teaching facility that could equally support people with disabilities and able-bodied players, has been realised.

 


NEW DISTRIBUTION ANNOUNCED
For Gianni Ferrari parts
 
Replacement parts now available

Move brings the parts business in-line with the current distribution strategy, following the formation of new subsidiary in 2022.

 


Gianni Ferrari have announced that replacement parts are now available via the Kubota (U.K) Limited dealer network, with immediate effect.

 

 

The company says the move is designed to streamline the supply of parts for existing Gianni Ferrari customers and brings the parts business in-line with the current distribution strategy for Kubota’s groundcare portfolio, following the formation of the Kubota Gianni Ferrari S.R.L. subsidiary in the summer of 2022.

 

With a network of approved groundcare dealers throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland (RoI), existing Gianni Ferrari customers can now access the catalogue of replacement parts, with fast delivery and the expertise of Kubota trained technicians. Kubota says systems are in place to provide a comprehensive range of spare parts for existing ranges including - but not limited to - the GT, SR, PG and Turbo series of machinery, together with the new FC3 and FC4 out-front centre-collect mower series, introduced under the Kubota banner over the last twelve months. 

 

Commenting on the announcement Tim Yates, Kubota (U.K) sales manager, said, “This is great news for existing Gianni Ferrari customers, who now have a clear and accessible nationwide route to obtain service support and replacement parts."

AGING FLEET REPLACED
At Ladbrook Park Golf Club
 
Course manager, Kevin Fellows

Course manager, Kevin Fellows, says it was a big commitment to swap out their existing fleet and go, almost exclusively, with one brand.

 


Ladbrook Park Golf Club, situated in the Warwickshire countryside near Tanworth-in-Arden, say they have put their trust in Ventrac and taken delivery of four 4520 all-terrain compact tractors and 13 attachments to maintain their prestigious 1908 Colt-designed course.

 

Kevin Fellows

 

Kevin Fellows has been the course manager for 38 years, having joined the club in 1985 from nearby Shirley Golf Club. He was appointed to his current position in 1994.

 

Commenting on the club’s decision to take this route, he said, “With the exception of our fine turf areas, the majority of the course is now maintained with Ventrac equipment. It fits in with our agronomic requirements and does everything apart from fine turf and aeration. For all other areas - approaches, fairways, semi, rough, our ecology areas, transport, ditching, haulage - the Ventrac system fits perfectly. At the moment we have everything we need. It fits our current maintenance plan; tomorrows objectives and our longer-term direction.

 

“Selling it to the board of directors was not an issue. The initial thinking was to identify machines for replacement on a like-for-like basis and then progressively, over the next few years, replace and update as necessary. The alternative was to take the Ventrac route. Fortunately, the finance director and board were keen to fund our replacement programme, with the support of the Greens committee, whichever direction we chose."

 

 

Kevin continued, “It was a big commitment to swap out our existing fleet and go, almost exclusively, with Ventrac. Once we started to look, we became increasingly discontent with some of the market forces; supply lines and cost were major considerations. As a course manager you have to think laterally, so I asked myself is there a better way of doing this? Covid caused a reset in thinking; prior to the pandemic a lot of clubs were committed to one manufacturer or another. We were principally a one manufacturer machinery operation.

 

“I was looking for something that gave us more versatility and began by looking at compact tractors from various manufacturers. Then, by pure chance Jon Lewis dropped by one afternoon with a trailer of Ventrac equipment. Naturally enough I had a look and next morning Jon gave me a brochure. And the rest is history!"

PLOGGING CHALLENGE COMMENCED!
Stay healthy and do good
 
TurfPro owner, Duncan Murray-Clarke plogging in Louisville with Arnie

TurfPro owner, Duncan Murray-Clarke, is encouraging anyone who wants to get involved in plogging - jogging and picking up litter - to join a special Strava group.

 


TurfPro owner, Duncan Murray-Clarke, is encouraging anyone who wants to get involved in plogging - jogging and picking up litter - to join a special Strava group.

 

 

Duncan explained, "I have recently completed my 240th plog. If I am truthful, I thought I invented the concept a few years ago. I was out running one day, kickstarted by Covid boredom, and noticed how much litter there was around the place - and I live in the countryside!

 

"So I started picking it up along the way whilst jogging. Picking up litter plus jogging equals plogging - very simple.

 

"But as the saying goes, there is no such thing as a new idea - it actually transpires that the word 'plogga' In Sweden combines jogging with litter removal and was thought of by one Erik Ahlstrom several years earlier."

 

Duncan continued, "I soon started to take a bag with me and now I can collect up to a carrier bag of rubbish every run. So I recon my 240 runs have collected a skip’s worth.

 

"When I travel, I always try and sneak a plog in and do some good wherever I am (and another side effect of a plog is it makes you feel doubly virtuous after a run). My most memorable plog was meeting Arnie halfway across the the Big Four bridge over the Ohio River in Louisville when visiting the Equip trade show.

 

TurfPro owner, Duncan Murray-Clarke plogging in Louisville with Arnie

 

"Arnie was also plogging! The only difference being he was picking up trash and I was picking up rubbish. And I managed to get a selfie with the lovely guy. He was good, the bridge was immaculate."

 

Now Duncan says he is delighted that the TAP team want to get behind plogging as part of B Corp Month. "I would urge anyone who runs or walks to join our Plogging Strava group and share what they are doing," said Duncan. "Share a picture - feel good about what you are doing!

 

"Let’s see how much rubbish (or trash) we can shift together (whether you are a “to hell with my time and collect a whole bag” or “just a couple of bits and a fast pace” type of person). 

 

"If you are an organisation please, please share with your employees and beyond. No strings, we just want to share this lovely concept (even if I didn’t think of it first)."

 

JOBS
ADVERTISE YOUR JOBS HERE
Amazing success rates!
 
Advertise your jobs on TurfPro Weekly Briefing

Advertise your recruitment needs on TurfPro Weekly Briefing and reach our targeted audience of recipients every week.

Contact Nikki Harrison for details - 01491 837117


PREVIOUS FEATURES
EDITOR'S BLOG ARCHIVE
Catch up with Laurence Gale's recent blogs
 
TurfPro editor, Laurence Gale

Want to catch up with one of editor Laurence Gale's blogs? Here is the place to do so.

 


TURFPRO FEATURE ARCHIVE
Find our previous features here
 
TurfPro Feature Archive

If you want to catch up with any of TurfPro's previous features, here is the place to do so.


SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE IN THE AMENITY SUPPLY SECTOR
Optimising land use through integrated solutions

 

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE GOLF SECTOR
Focus on BIGGA

 

THE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE
Bringing together key points

 

DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR GOLF
R&A are supporting clubs

 

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF EVERY POUND OF BUDGET
A course manager's view

 

A NEWFOUND APPRECIATION FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS
Who look after grassroots pitches

 

SUSTAINABILITY & THE UK ACTION PLAN
For weed, pest and disease management

 

CONCERN FOR PARKS FOLLOWING COUNCIL BANKRUPTCIES
What does the future hold?

 

TAKING A GLOBAL LOOK AT SUSTAINABILITY
Is the rest of the world also driving towards sustainable practice?

 

RENOVATIONS, PLAY AND THANKS
On my mind this week

 

SUSTAINABILITY – IMPLICATIONS FOR TRAINING & EDUCATION
Set to play a crucial role going forward

 

TULIP TREE
Liriodendron tulipifera

 

LYDIA BROOM
Genista lydia

 

THE LAWN AND ITS VALUE
Changing attitudes

 

GIANT HOGWEED
Invasive and potentially harmful

 

LIFE-CYCLE ANALYSIS & SUSTAINABILITY
Considering every stage of the journey

 

NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY
The most important nutrient

 

BERBERIS THUNBERGII
A shrub that has stood the test of time

 

ENSURING FUTURE PROSPERITY
Advice imparted at road shows

 

INNOVATION & SUSTAINABILITY
A key focus

 

PHOTINA RED ROBIN
A sensational flowering shrub

 

VALUING THE GRASSROOTS
We must not overlook those who maintain these grounds

 

MANAGING WEEDS SUSTAINABLY
In amenity spaces

 

DETECTING NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
In turf plants

 

SPRING RENOVATIONS UNDERWAY
A crucial period

 

SUSTAINABILITY IN SUPPLY
A focus on those who supply essential inputs to our sector

 

CHANGING CLIMATE
Is a borehole the key for clubs?

 

SUSTAINABILITY AT THE SHARP END
How to put into practice when budgets are tight?

 

ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN OF GRASSROOTS RUGBY
Clubs are struggling

 

SUSTAINABILITY IN PRACTICE
Seeking transparent and robust supply chains is essential

 

TIME FOR ACTION
To reverse recruitment crisis

 

CONTROLLING COSTS
Planning is crucial

 

THE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABILITY
What exactly does the term mean?

 

CARING FOR THE GRASSROOTS
From volunteers to contractors

 

DEFRA IS LETTING DOWN THE COUNTRY
Complete failure to address the plastic grass debate

 

WE CAN ALL DO MORE
To aid biodiversity

 

MY LIFE IN GREENKEEPING
With Bruce Cruickshank

 

LEVELLING UP, GETTING SMARTER & GETTING AHEAD
Parks require so much more funding

 

SWITCHED ON FOR HARD WORK
Putting trimmers through their paces

 

MACHINERY HIGHLIGHTS
At this year's show

 

MY SALTEX
Daniel Lewis​, Manchester City Football Club

 

AWASH WITH LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Two months till showtime

 

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD
Priorities for the amenity sector

 

THE DECLINE OF ‘PARKITECTURE’
A symptom of the state of parks in 2022

 

DEVELOPERS SHIRKING GREEN SPACE RESPONSIBILITIES
Lack of financial commitment

 

TIME TO COME TOGETHER
For the good of the industry

 

THE DEATH OF GRASS ROOTS CRICKET
Gathering apace?

 

ROUTES INTO THE INDUSTRY MUST BE ENSURED
Q&A with David Fisher, Lantra’s head of industry partnerships

 

STRONG VIEWS ON CRICKET PITCH PERFORMANCE MARKING
A bone of contention

 

A PREMIUM PRODUCT
Delivered at Naas Golf Club

 

THE GREEN REVOLUTION
And Esker Hills

 

MAKING A CHANGE
Laytown and Bettystown Golf Links

 

A DAY AT THE RACES
Naas Race Course

 

WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE VOICE
How the industry needs to proceed

 

OVER 175 YEARS OF EDUCATION
Wesley College

 

ELECTRIC EXCITEMENT
Dennis's Ian Howard talks electrification

 

THE HOME OF CORK GAA
Páirc Uí Chaoimh

 

LONG POLE BATTERY HEDGE TRIMMERS TESTED
STIHL HLA 66 and HLA 86

 

OVER 800 YEARS OF HISTORY
Johnstown Castle and Gardens

 

A CLUB GONE WILD
Kilkenny Golf Club

 

A GOLF COURSE IN THE GARDEN OF IRELAND
Woodenbridge GC

 

80 YEARS YOUNG
Charleville Golf Club

 

AN UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE
Bunclody Golf & Fishing Club

 

GETTING BACK TOGETHER
Albeit gradually . .

 

GO WEST
Inishturk GAA pitch – one of the most westerly sportspitches in Europe

 

WORKING ON A TIGHT BUDGET
Nenagh Golf Club

 

ON A MISSION
Wrekin Golf Club aiming to enrich wildlife and fauna

 

WILD AND WONDERFUL
Design By Nature

 

LEARNING HOW TO SURVIVE
Abbey Par 3

 

TACKLING OBESITY
Vital that schools can provide sport

 

A LIFETIME OF LEARNING
Vital for turf professionals

 

CELEBRATING 125 YEARS
Tullamore Golf Club

 

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGES
At Trinity College Dublin

 

BLENDING THE OLD WITH THE NEW
Bray Golf Club

 

A WELL POLISHED COURSE!
Ierne Social And Sports Club

 

IDENTIFYING THE TRUE VALUES
Of grounds maintenance

 

THE INDUSTRY WILL CHANGE & ADAPT
But it will survive

 

WIRRAL GOLF COURSES SAVED
Renewed hope and optimism for the future

 

GREEN SPACE CONTRIBUTION TO WELLBEING IS UNDERVALUED
Parks invisible on national agenda

 

A SHINING LIGHT IN IRELAND'S SUNNY SOUTHEAST
Wexford Golf Club

 

GREEN SPACES DO NOT LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES!
Keith Kent says we must invest in people

 

WE SHOULD TELL THE WORLD ABOUT THE UK INDUSTRY
Right time for all sides to come together

 

SOIL LIFE IS PRECIOUS
Good-quality soil can help save the planet

 

MORE THAN JUST CUTTING GRASS
Encouraging the next generation

 

A BUZZ FROM DOING THE JOB
Wide experience of the turf grass industry

 

PAYING THEIR WAY
Low wages is the bane of the industry

 

AMENITY MANAGEMENT IMPACTS US ALL
Professor John Moverley

 

CARING FOR PARKS OF ALL TYPES
Mary Worrall

 

TOP FIVE FRUSTRATIONS FOR CRICKET GROUNDSMEN
What causes you the most frustration in your role?

 

PROFESSIONALS AT THE CUTTING EDGE
Vic Demain and Phil Sharples

 

BOWLS CLUBS IN PERIL
A sad decline

 

A VERY SPECIAL INDUSTRY
Loz looks back

 

SNEAK PEAK AT A ROBOTIC "GAME CHANGER"
Commercial model capable of covering 50,000 m2 teased

 

HALESOWEN PICK A BIG ROBOT UP FRONT
Invest in mowers

 

COMPRESSED AERATION
The new way

 

PARKS MATTER MORE THAN EVER
Recent sector developments

 

ON TEST
STIHL blowers

 

THREE CORE VALUES TO SHAPE OUR INDUSTRY
Real concerns for the future

 

ENGLAND'S GREEN SPACE GAP
A split along racial lines

 

ON TEST
EGO STX3800 strimmer with RTX2300 Rotocut head

 

A SECTOR FACING IMPORTANT TIMES
Review of the National Action Plan

 

PARKS MATTER
The role of public parks in the recovery: a discussion paper

 

A UNIQUE SPORTING VENUE
Wormsley private estate

 

A BTME OUTDOORS?
A good bet for the industry

 

PARKS NEED APPROPRIATE POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
Q&A with Philippa Reece, Parks and Foreshore Manager at Adur and Worthing Council

 

CRICKET LOAM
What does it mean?

 

A HERCULEAN EFFORT TO GET PARKS BACK TO NORMAL
Q&A with Chris Worman, Rugby Borough Council’s parks and ground manager

 

ON TEST
STIHL battery products

 

TURFGRASS STRESS MANAGEMENT
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and antioxidants during biotic and abiotic stress in turfgrass plants

 

AUTUMN DISEASE MANAGEMENT
The coming months are going to prove very difficult

 

THE ABUSE OF PARKS . .
Is the abuse of society

 

WHY PARKS MATTER?
A statement from the Parks Management Forum to the Prime Minister

 

THE 21st CENTURY PARKS MANAGER
Innovative, creative and entrepreneurial

 

EAT, SLEEP, CUT, REPEAT!
Cricket under covid

 

TIME FOR A SINGLE SHOW?
Debate brought back into focus

 

A CHALLENGING TWO MONTHS
Running golf design projects from home

 

PRESSURE SITUATION
Cementing the reputation

 

A CLUB TO BE PROUD OF
10 years at the helm of Olton GC

 

GAME CHANGERS IN TURFCARE
The day the Lord's outfield reconstruction proved its worth

 

THE ESSENCE OF ESSENTIAL
Finding a sensible way forward on defining "essential maintenance"

 

THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS
2001

 

HOW TO LOOK AFTER A GOLF COURSE WITH NO GOLFERS
Fundamental to the survival of almost all courses, if not of the game itself

 

RAIN STOPPED PLAY WOULD BE WELCOME
. . along with ‘lunch is being taken early’

 

PHYSICAL CONTROL OF TURFGRASS PESTS
An urgent problem

 

A DIVERSE & ENTERTAINING WEEK
Successful BTME 2020

 

INTEGRATED PEST CONTROL
Opportunity to embrace new methods

 

ENVILLE ON THE UP
Major investments taking place

 

GREEN FLAG AWARDS 2019
A great success

 

U.S PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT SHOW EXCELS
Buoyant GIE+EXPO

 

LEGACY OF THE SOLHEIM CUP
At Gleneagles

 

A DAY OUT WITH THE LADIES
Behind the scenes at the Solheim Cup

 

COVENTRY UNIVERSITY'S EDIBLE GARDEN SUCCESS
2006 - present

 

HAIL THE GRASS MASTERS!
Boorish media comments about pitch quality are wide of the mark

 

CONTRACTOR SEES MULTI-DISCIPLINE SUCCESS
360 Ground Care serving professional facilities

 

BUSY TIMES
Judging the Green Flag Awards

 

TAKING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
What does it all mean in managing turf surfaces?

 

UNDER PRESSURE
Dry weather conditions continue to keep turf managers focused on moisture management

 

EDDIE SEAWARD
Death of Wimbledon’s influential grounds manager

 

MAJOR NEW IRRIGATION PROJECT
At Top 100 classic Berkhamsted Golf Club

 

NEW HORIZONS FOR THE HATTERS
Investment paying off at Kenilworth Road

 

ELIZABETHAN RESTORATION
At Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens

 

WHAT IS BIOPHILIA?
The vital impact of parks and green spaces on health and well-being

 

WORM CONTROL
Without carbendazim

 

THE TRUE COST OF PETROL
Battery-powered outdoor power tools are now turning the heads of professionals

 

SANDS OF TIME
Sand-based pitches are now the norm in professional sports

 

WHY DO WE DO THE RIGHT THING?
We must maintain industry standards

 

CHASING GRASS PERFECTION?
11 things you need to know . . .

 

MAINTAINING STANDARDS
Q&A with BASIS ceo, Stephen Jacobs

 

STRI RESEARCH DAY 2018
Hosted at research trial grounds in Bingley

 

THE MECHANIC
Leicester City FC invest in new role

 

LORD'S 'GRASS-GUVNOR' TO RETIRE
Mick Hunt bows out after 49 years

 

HOLLOW CORING & DEEP SCARIFICATION
Is it really necessary?

Side Advert Image

 


PARTNERS
Berthoud
 
Berthoud
CAMPEY
 
Campey Turf Care Systems
Foley
 
Foley Company
Greenbest
 
Greenbest
HUSQVARNA UK
 
Husqvarna UK
ISEKI UK & IRELAND
 
Iseki
Kubota
 
Kubota
LANTRA
 
LANTRA
Garden trader
 
Garden Trader
PRODUCED BY THE AD PLAIN
The Ad Plain
 
TAP
FEATURE
BEEKEEPING IN COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENTS
The current situation
by Dave Taylor, environment and innovation manager, Nurture Group
 
Beekeeping in a commercial environment

Commercial properties can incorporate native flowering plants, trees, and shrubs that provide a diverse and continuous supply of nectar and pollen throughout the seasons.

 


Apiculture, or beekeeping as its more commonly known, has been a quintessential part of the UK countryside for decades.


Honeybees play a pivotal role in pollination, which directly impacts agricultural productivity, and the wider bio-diversity of our landscape. Well known for their honey and wax, they are a perceived symbol of health, vitality and diversity wherever you see a beehive. And in recent years have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in urban areas and across commercial sites.


DAVE TAYLOR, environment and innovation manager, Nurture Group, explores the current situation in relation to Beehives on commercial properties and within our cityscapes.

 


There are more than 260 species of bee in the UK, 24 bumblebees and over 240 species of solitary bee, as well as the most famous of all, the honeybee. Bees are amongst a wider group of pollinating insects, but they are one of the most prolific, performing about 80% of all pollination worldwide. According to Greenpeace, seventy out of the top one hundred food crop species we grow are pollinated by bees.


The Challenges of Unsustainable Bee Installations


At Nurture we have been providing and supporting honeybees across a variety of our client sites for the past 15 years. We have witnessed first hand the increasing trend and “fashion” to have a hive, and often a request for a beehive is followed by “we want to improve the biodiversity on our property”. A well-meaning but unfortunately inaccurate statement, which requires a little further understanding.


Whilst its true honeybees do support biodiversity, they themselves are essentially a large single species colony, with a huge appetite for forage, a term referring to the essential pollen and nectar, (amongst other elements) honeybees require to sustain the colony.  In the right location the hive can sit harmoniously alongside the wider environment and provide a great platform to showcase an array of sustainable practices and engagement. In the wrong location however, a hive can impact negatively to other pollinators such as the bumble and solitary bees. A key understanding in managing the balance, is looking at the wider impact honeybees have on the monoculture around the hive, flying up to three miles from the hive and with colonies potentially growing to more than 70,000 in number in the summer. Wrongly located hives can quickly consume forage to levels too low to sustain other pollinators leading to risks of single species dominance and creating the exact opposite affect initially hoped for. 


Our larger cities, have for some time now, become increasingly impacted by this issue, none more so than Greater London - with numbers of hives more than doubling over the past 10 years. Initial concerns over bees in London started to be raised in 2017, further studies and a report published in 2020 by Kew Gardens confirmed the impact honeybees are having on other pollinating species. In addition to the bee species discussed above, there are some 2,200 species of butterflies and moths and more than 7,000 species of beetles, flies and wasps. Many locations in Greater London can no longer support honeybees because of the limited amount of forage available.


This trend is increasing not only in other UK cities, but across Europe and North America.

 


The London Beekeepers Association (LBKA) said it had found that many businesses in the city were gradually reducing the number of hives on rooftops or removing them altogether and is calling for more responsible beekeeping. So called ‘bee-washing’ as part of ESG branding needs to end. As Richard Glassborough, president of the LBKA, said: “The misinformed ‘save the bees’ narrative that still preaches the decline of honey bees, despite overwhelming evidence that honey bee numbers are not declining and probably never will. It has not decreased, certainly not in Britain, it is difficult to eliminate it.” 


It’s crucial that companies continue to support the benefit honeybees can bring in the right setting. Since the 2020 report we ourselves ceased installation of hives in London. During 2023 we declined more than 215 hive requests in London and other parts of the UK. Instead, the way forward is through adapting new landscaping practices to increase biodiversity and increasing education on how beekeeping can and should be done sustainably. This means creating bee-friendly rooftop gardens and habitats for wild bees in urban areas and moving towards planting pollinator-friendly flowers instead of adding hives. 


This adaption of the landscape, in conjunction with leading organisations such as Buglife, Plantlife and the Wildlife trust, is resulting in not only a reprieve for pollinators and other insects but an award-winning service. 


The Importance of Bee-Friendly Landscaping


Commercial properties can incorporate native flowering plants, trees, and shrubs that provide a diverse and continuous supply of nectar and pollen throughout the seasons. Creating bee friendly habitats can include simple steps such as growing organically to avoid the use of any harmful chemicals, choosing plants that attract bees including plenty of native species and planting wildflowers and diverse flowering plants. Furthermore, it is important to make sure the bee habitat is in bloom all year round, so there is nectar for bees every season. Leaving lawn areas un-mowed for ground-dwelling bees is also important. Good practice involves conducting initial biodiversity impact assessments when taking on a new site, looking at and collaborating with the client to identify gaps in flowering periods, potential habitat provision and methods for improving and creating a greater diversity in the landscape through simple changes or adaptions in maintenance.

 


Education and Community Outreach Matters


Why install a beehive at all you might ask, in light of understanding the impacts within our built environment?


Beehives in the right location provide a fantastic piece as part of wider initiatives in engaging employees, clients, and the local community in understanding how they can support biodiversity in their home, challenge long standing misconceptions. They can also provide insights into the world of pollinators, and as we see an increasing urban based population, give knowledge of our green spaces. We have supported more than 7,000 people at our “meet the bees” workshops. Allowing participants to put on bee suits and get up close and personal with the bees.

 


Our teams visit schools and local community hubs to carry out talks and educational engagement using the honeybee as a vehicle to pass the message of the importance of pollinators, and our honey workshops allow attendees to see how honey comes from the hive, discuss food ethics and to give understanding of what is actually in the jar.


Nurture’s honeybee programme is supported by a network of inhouse trained beekeepers, using our own internal Lantra college.  Oour Master Keeper John Beavan, developed and accredited our NVQ qualification, ensuring we can provide experienced and knowledgeable support where it is needed.


Sustainable and responsible beekeeping on commercial properties is a tangible way to contribute to environmental conservation and promote biodiversity. Although there can be challenges when beekeeping is not done in a sustainable manner, we should continue to promote biodiversity and create the right habitats for bees where they can thrive.