As part of our commitment to reduce our environmental impact, we have recently welcomed 80,000 bees and four beehives, utilising our office’s green spaces and contributing to biodiversity within a three-mile radius of our Bridgend and Chippenham offices.
The bees are a vital part of our planet's ecosystem, which is under threat from various environmental factors. The decline of the bee population has serious implications for biodiversity, food security and climate change, as bees play a crucial role in pollinating plants and crops. That's why CGI is proud to partner with Buckley's Bees, a local organisation that supports beekeeping and conservation. By hosting four beehives at our Bridgend and Chippenham offices, we are helping to protect and nurture these amazing insects, while also creating a greener and more sustainable workspace. Our employees can enjoy the benefits of fresh honey, learn more about bee behaviour and culture, and contribute to the global effort to save the bees.
Bees are essential for the health and diversity of our natural environment. They help to maintain the balance of nature by transferring pollen from one plant to another, enabling them to reproduce and produce seeds, fruits and nuts. Bees also support the growth of wildflowers and trees, which provide habitats and food for other animals and insects. Without bees, many of the plants and crops that we rely on for food would disappear, affecting not only human nutrition but also the livelihoods of farmers and the economy. Importantly, bees are indicators of the state of our climate, as they respond to changes in temperature, rainfall and seasons. By monitoring the behaviour and health of our CGI bees, we can gain insights into the effects of climate change on our local environment and beyond.
Our CGI bees are native species that have adapted to the conditions and flora of their regions. At our Waterton office, we have Welsh Bees, which are known for their hardiness and productivity. They can forage in cooler and wetter weather than other bees, and produce high-quality honey from the diverse plants of Wales. At our Chippenham office, we have English Bees, which are gentle and calm and can cope with the variable climate and landscape of England. They produce honey from a variety of sources, such as clover, lavender and oilseed rape. Both types of bees are managed by Buckley's Bees, who ensure that they are healthy, happy and well-fed throughout the year. They also educate our employees and the public about the importance of bees and how to protect them from threats such as pesticides, diseases and invasive species like the Asian Hornet.
We are delighted to welcome our CGI bees and look forward to sharing more updates on their progress and achievements. We hope that our partnership with Buckley's Bees will inspire more people to appreciate and support these incredible creatures and join us in our commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
