[{"id":291826630849,"handle":"fairtrade-artisan-range","updated_at":"2025-03-27T12:23:30+00:00","published_at":"2023-01-25T07:02:11+00:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"web","title":"Artisan Range","body_html":""},{"id":243162775745,"handle":"bumblebees","updated_at":"2025-04-01T08:11:27+01:00","published_at":"2021-01-28T09:54:18+00:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"web","title":"Bumblebees","body_html":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIf you look closely at flowering plants in your garden chances are, you'll spot at least one species of bumblebee. The large, hairy bees are usually black with varying degrees of yellow banding. They are social insects that live in colonies of up to 200 workers. We have pollinators, such as the bumblebee, to thank for around every third mouthful of what we eat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe continuing decline in bumblebee numbers across the globe is partially linked to changes in the way we farm and use pesticides. It is now more important than ever to do your bit to help. You can do this by growing different flowers and shrubs that are full of nectar and pollen. As a result, they'll have abundant feeding grounds throughout the year. You can also help bumblebees by providing them somewhere to nest. In spring, queen bumblebees will be searching for nest sites. They'll be attracted to gardens where they can find plenty of food and safe places to nest low on the ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWildlife World cares passionately about bumblebees. We've carefully designed a range of habitats and unique flower mixes to encourage bumblebees into your garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","image":{"created_at":"2021-02-15T11:51:19+00:00","alt":null,"width":900,"height":934,"src":"\/\/wildlifeworldtrade.co.uk\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/bumblebees_900x_5ce02b94-fce2-4e43-92f3-4a2b1dc744a3.jpg?v=1613389879"}},{"id":243162841281,"handle":"honey-bees","updated_at":"2025-03-18T07:25:14+00:00","published_at":"2021-01-28T09:54:38+00:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"web","title":"Honey Bees","body_html":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWe have been enjoying the honey made thanks to our honey bees' hard work for thousands of years! Although not as distinctive as a bumblebee, they are easily recognisable little black and gold bees. That, in the wild, live in large hives made of wax honeycombs. Hives can contain up to 50,000 bees. The queen lays eggs whilst the workers and drones care for the young and collect pollen and nectar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMost Honeybees are now in managed hives. And are likely still responsible for pollinating 5-15% of the UK's insect-pollinated crops. Honey bees and other pollinators are vital for the survival of wild plants that support much of our wildlife, not just the food crops they pollinated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eYou'll see honey bees in your garden from spring until late autumn, collecting pollen and nectar from a variety of flowers and blossoms. We can all do our bit to help out these tireless honey bees by planting an abundance of pollen and nectar-rich flowers in your garden, borders or planter pots. Another way to help is to let part of your garden grow wild, allowing wildflowers to grow and make great feeding sites. Wildlife World also have a range of hives and accessories for anyone keen to become a beekeeper and produce their honey!\u003c\/p\u003e","image":{"created_at":"2021-02-15T12:04:00+00:00","alt":null,"width":900,"height":934,"src":"\/\/wildlifeworldtrade.co.uk\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/honey_bee_900x_c367c1a3-3189-4522-aaa6-6a88ecce3fa1.jpg?v=1613390640"}},{"id":243162874049,"handle":"solitary-bees","updated_at":"2025-03-27T12:17:07+00:00","published_at":"2021-01-28T09:55:00+00:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"web","title":"Solitary Bees","body_html":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAlthough not as familiar as honey bees or bumblebees, solitary bees are gentle bees that are amazingly effective pollinator. In the U.K just under 250 of the 270 species of bee are solitary bees. As the name suggests, they tend not to live in colonies. Instead, they lay their larvae in tubes, tunnels or nesting chambers. Sealing them in with enough food to last until they are ready to emerge through the seal of mud and chewed leaves as adult pollinators.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eNatural habitats, for solitary bees to build nests, become harder to find in modern gardens. The addition of a solitary bee house or hotel can attract bees to your garden to nest and return year after year. The ideal site to place your solitary bee house is well above the ground in a warm, south-facing position, ideally, near plenty of nectar-rich flowers, plants and tree. To attract solitary bees into your garden, you should include flowering plants to provide nectar and pollen. Our selected range of native wildflower species is ideal for pollinating bees in our Plants for Wildlife category.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWildlife World has been studying the solitary bee for 15 years. As a result, we have many tried and tested solitary bee habitats for you to choose from. As well as the essentials to enable you to build your bee hotels.\u003c\/p\u003e","image":{"created_at":"2021-02-15T12:00:36+00:00","alt":null,"width":900,"height":934,"src":"\/\/wildlifeworldtrade.co.uk\/cdn\/shop\/collections\/solitary_bees_900x_2727bfad-3ca6-41a5-bb08-89947459072f.jpg?v=1613390436"}}]
This decorative Artisan Bee Skep is a fusion between traditional European skeps and the skilled handmade style of artisans from Bangladesh. Making it a modern take on the traditional style of bee skeps used for managing bees in the early days of beekeeping across much of Europe.
These Fair-Trade handmade artisan bee skeps are tightly woven, and their natural design ensures they're water-resistant and provide valuable insulation. This style of skep was traditionally used for collecting swarms, now typically used for decorative purposes or as part of a re-wilding effort. It's always a good idea to plant wildflowers or other pollinating flowers close to the skep to attract bees and give them a valuable food source.
Each Artisan Bee Skep is handmade using natural hogla grass and recycled saris to the highest quality finish and is totally plastic-free. The individual artisans choose the colourful recycled sari pattern around the entrance, making every nester unique.
(Hogla is a type of grass that abundantly grows in Bangladesh and is used as a material for baskets, cushions and placemats. Hogla grass regularly causes problems near the shores as it can overgrow whole harbors, rivers and ponds. This material is considered a weed and the local villagers remove it.)
Purchasing our Fair-Trade products helps both wildlife and people. In addition to giving your garden bees a home, you'll be supporting the artisan workers in Southern Bangladesh who make them—funding the survival of many women and their families in rural communities living in poverty.
Siting
If sited outside, the skep should be sheltered and raised from the ground. The skep can be anchored with tent pegs for extra support. It can be helpful to brace the inside of the skep with twigs and sticks to give the bees a starting structure and material to build their nest around.
