Supporting biodiversity through beekeeping

Since 2023, we’ve been proud sponsors of two beehives at an offsite apiary in Bath, partnering with Knights Beekeeping to help protect and grow the UK’s declining honey-bee population. This summer, we celebrated our fourth harvest – a milestone that reflects our ongoing commitment to biodiversity and environmental responsibility.

The UK’s bee population has declined over recent decades, under pressure from habitat loss, pesticides and climate change. As pollinators, bees matter well beyond honey. They support the trees, flowers and plants that in turn feed and shelter many other species. Sponsoring an apiary in the countryside is our way of helping bee numbers recover, away from urban pressures and with the space they need.

Why not London

As a London brand, the obvious move would have been hives on a roof here. We chose not to. The London Beekeepers’ Association warns that urban beekeeping, particularly in central London, now competes with wild pollinators for limited forage, and research from Kew has described parts of the city as unsustainable. A rural apiary works differently. With diverse forage, honey bees and wild species have room to coexist, so we back beekeeping where it does more good rather than where it is more visible.

Our partnership with Knight’s Beekeeping

Knight’s Beekeeping manages our two hives at their apiary near Bath, on the edge of the Cotswolds, where experienced beekeepers care for the colonies year-round. The rural setting gives the bees access to diverse wildflowers and forage, and good conditions for healthy colonies. Each harvest depends on the season, with weather, forage and colony health all playing a part. Our first batch of STAY honey arrived in 2023.

Sharing the harvest

The result is raw, unprocessed honey from mixed local forage, taken only as surplus so the colonies keep ample reserves for winter. Its colour and flavour shift slightly year to year, so, like wine, each harvest has a character of its own. We offer pots to long-stay residents on request, subject to availability. It is a small gesture, and a reminder that even in the heart of Camden we are thinking about the countryside and the natural world beyond.

Our commitment

The beekeeping partnership sits alongside our other green initiatives at STAY Camden, from brown roofs that support biodiversity to our rooftop bug hotel. Together with our Gold Award from Green Tourism and our Greengage EcoSmart Plus accreditation, they reflect a simple belief: sustainable hospitality means looking beyond our own operations. As we move into a third year with Knight’s Beekeeping, protecting these pollinators is one small part of that.

To learn more, visit our STAY Green page.