Adopt-a-Hive
Bees are tiny little miracles of nature – they not only pollinate our flowers but are largely responsible for our crops and food. It is estimated that a third of the food we consume relies predominantly on pollination by bees …
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But these little heroes are under threat.
Across the world there has been a growing concern about the decline in the bee population, mainly due to intensive farming, loss of habitat, improper use of pesticides and climate change.
Our conservation team at Mantis has been hard at work to help prevent the decline in the bee population. In 2019, we relocated 120 new beehives onto three Mantis properties in the Eastern Cape. With an average of 50Â 000 to 75Â 000 bees per hive, this has created a habitat for around 9 million bees.
To coincide with World Bee Day in May 2021, we extended our bee project to the Western Cape by installing 70 beehives at two sites: The Honey House on Willowdale Farm in Stanford and on Hazendal and introduced an ‘Adopt-a-Hive’ initiative.
In 2022, we are now piloting our first community-benefit micro-apiaries in two provinces.
The beauty of this project is in the comprehensive set of objectives:
In collaboration with Honeybee Heroes, the Adopt-a-Hive initiative offers you a simple, hands-off way to help honeybees and nature’s pollination process. You can support bees without being a beekeeper!
For an investment of £100 (R2 000) you can adopt a honeybee hive and, in return, besides being a bee hero, you receive:
Our project goals include establishing community-benefit micro apiaries at suitable Mantis hotels with equipment, training and mentorship being provided to the apiary beneficiaries to ensure long-term sustainability and success of the project.
Once the hives are installed the community beneficiaries will reap the rewards, earning a percentage of the honey produced, which is sold to Mantis properties and local businesses. This will provide additional jobs and income for the local community.
Help protect our honeybees; they play a critical role in our ecosystem. If our bees die, so could we … no bees, no food. It is that simple!
Click here to Adopt-a-Hive or donate to the project.
