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.
Many of the UK’s wild bees and other pollinators have declined over recent decades, under pressure from habitat loss, pesticides and climate change. Pollinators matter well beyond honey. They support the trees, flowers and plants that in turn feed and shelter many other species.
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.
Around the building
Closer to home, STAY Camden has brown roofs planted for wildlife and a rooftop bug hotel. We also hold a Gold Award from Green Tourism and Greengage EcoSmart Plus accreditation.
To learn more, visit our sustainability page.
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