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30th March 2017

Brakspear Honey Bee creates a buzz for Friends of the Earth Bee Campaign

A Friends of the Earth campaign to help Britain’s under-threat bees is being given a boost by a honey beer created by Henley-based brewer and pub operator Brakspear.

Honey Bee, a 4.4% ABV honey beer, will be available in selected Brakspear pubs in Henley from 1 April and then offered to the entire Brakspear estate as their seasonal ale for May.  Every pint sold will raise 10 pence for Friends of the Earth’s Bee Cause campaign.

Created by Brakspear head brewer Malcolm Mayo, Honey Bee was originally sold in 2015, and raised £1,300 for the charity. Brewed using Maris Otter and Crystal malts as well as malted oats, First Gold and Willamette hops, Honey Bee has delicate, subtle honey notes, with a bracing delivery of hops on the follow through.

Honey Bee is one element of Brakspear’s support for British bees this year. Pubs will also be encouraging customers to take part in the Great British Bee Count www.greatbritishbeecount.co.uk) from 19 May – 30 June. This initiative by Friends of the Earth encourages the public to get outdoors and do some bee-spotting with a free smartphone app. It’s a fun way to learn more about bees and provides some easy steps that can be taken to protect them.  The data from the sightings will also help experts build a better picture of how our bee populations are faring.

Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies said: “We are very proud of Honey Bee and delighted to be continuing the partnership with the Bee Cause that we started in 2014, when many of our pubs planted bee-friendly flowers and shrubs in their gardens, patios and window boxes.

“Brewing a honey beer and supporting the Bee Cause are naturals for Brakspear. Not only do we have a bee in our logo, but most of our pubs have gardens or outdoor floral displays that depend upon bees, which is why so many of our licensees and their customers supported the campaign in previous years.

“We’re sure that Honey Bee will once again be popular among our customers and we look forward to presenting Friends of the Earth with a sizeable donation later this year.”

Friends of the Earth chief executive Craig Bennett said: “We’re extremely grateful to Brakspear for their fabulous support for our Bee Cause Campaign, and their tremendous efforts in raising awareness of the plight of the humble bee.

“People can enjoy a pint of Honey Bee and know they are helping these precious pollinators, which are currently facing enormous threats, such as habitat loss, pesticide-use and climate change.”

Brakspear’s partnership with Friends of the Earth will help to raise awareness of the threats facing these bees and encourage the public to be part of the generation that saves them. As well as the honey bee, Britain is home to around 225 species of solitary bee and 25 bumble bees.

Caption to attached image: Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies (centre) with Friends of the Earth’s Caitlin Nisos (left) and Adam Scott (right). Photo courtesy of Henley Herald

ends

Notes to editors

Bee Cause is Friends of the Earth’s campaign to protect the bee. Bees have lost 97% of their natural habitat over the last 60 years, 20 species of bees have become extinct, and 25% of those left are on the endangered species list. Worldwide, bees pollinate 75% of our main food crops and scientists estimate it would cost £1.8 billion per year to pollinate UK crops by hand. More at www.foe.co.uk/bees

The bee on the Brakspear logo has its roots in a centuries-old connection to Nicholas Breakspear, the only English Pope and a distant relative of the Brakspear family. Elected as Pope Adrian IV in 1154, his papal seal included a bee, apparently as a reminder of the ‘B’ at the beginning of his name.

Easy ways to help bees

  1. Grow bee-friendly plants 

Bees visit plants for their nectar and pollen, and may visit a plant for one or both of these. As a general guide, bees see purple and blue better than other colours. Different bee species prefer different flower shapes, so aim for a range from tubular-shaped flowers like snapdragons and wallflowers, to open-headed flowers like daisies, yarrow and verbena. It’s not just flowers like these that bees love – try shrubs, herbs, trees (hazel, pussy willow) and fruit and veg (beans, peas, peppers, onions) too. Spring and autumn flowering bulbs like crocus are also great.

 

  1. Plant through the seasons 

Bees need food through every season, not just the summer. Get started with Friends of the Earth’s free seasonal guide to 28 great plants for bees.

  1. Short of space? 

Even if you don’t have a garden or much space, a few plants in a window box or pots will all help bees. Try lavender, heathers, nasturtiums, sunflowers and bulbs like crocuses. Herbs are great too for containers.

  1. Enjoy fresh herbs 

Herbs provide a valuable source of food for bees – and great flavours for your cooking. Chives, sage, marjoram, mint and thyme are great if you have limited space.  Discover 5 easy herbs which bees will love.

  1. Learn to love a few weeds 

If you have a lawn, leave some dandelions and clover to flower for the bees. A ‘messy corner’ with a pile of old wood and leaves will help bees and bring other wildlife too.

  1. Avoid using pesticides 

Help wildlife thrive by putting away the chemical pesticides, especially those containing bee-harming neonicotinoid pesticides.

  1. Buying a gift?  

Bee-friendly plants or a bee hotel make a lovely gift. How about a patio fruit tree like a crab apple or cherry (wild, sour, bird or plum cherries) for a special anniversary? Strawberries and blueberries are great for young children.

 

Issued on behalf of: Brakspear

Website: www.brakspear.co.uk

Twitter: @BrakspearPubs

Information on Brakspear: ShielPorter Communications

ros@shielporter.com / 07841 694137 / 01403 267971

Information on Friends of: Neil Verlander, Friends of the Earth press office:

the Earth neil.verlander@foe.co.uk / 020 7566 1649

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