National Wildlife Day

This week we are looking forward to the celebration of National Wildlife Day on the 3rd September 2022! - and we think you should be involved!

Not sure what it’s all about? We’ve put together our thoughts on why it’s so important, what it means to us as a business, and what you can do to support this worthy cause too. Read on to find out more!

What is national wildlife day and why is it important?

So, what’s the big deal with National Wildlife Day- and more importantly, why should you care about it? Put simply, there are so many reasons why this awareness day should be on your radar.

National Wildlife Day was set up in 2005 by animal behaviourist Colleen Paige, with the intention to raise awareness of

“Endangered animals nationally as well as globally, that need to be preserved and rescued from their demise each year, but also to acknowledge zoos and outstanding animal sanctuaries globally for everything they do to help preserve this planet's animals and educate the public about conservation - especially to children.... our animal's future caretakers and conservationists.” (National Wildlife Day)

Now, there are two National Wildlife Days, with the second date of February 22nd being added in honour of the late Steve Irwin. Having two dates to focus on efforts to fight for the wild animals around the globe that need our help means that we can collectively double our efforts to give these animals a voice- and to make a difference in their lives.

National Wildlife Day is important to us- and to you- because without these animals, our world is going to look very different indeed.

Where does Hilltop come into this?

Bees are our world. Without bees, there would be no Hilltop- and quite possibly there would be no you and I, either.

Bees are amazing. They’re crucial for food production, for maintaining the delicate balance of many different eco systems. In fact, bees have such a huge and direct impact on how our world operates, that without them we just couldn’t survive. And the thing is, bees are under threat, too. And what’s worse is that many humans simply don’t understand or appreciate just how vital bees are.

From the beginning of Hilltop, way back in 2011, the welfare of our bees has been at the heart of all that we do. From that one single beehive received as a birthday present, to the first jars that appeared in farm shops and delis in 2013, the journey has been incredible.

We expanded our range and found ourselves on the shelves in Sainsbury’s, Holland & Barratt, and Selfridges (not to mention we were also selling online to Amazon and Ocado). We launched our organic range with full approval from The Soil Association and in 2016 we won our first accolades in the Great Taste Awards.

By 2017, Hilltop had grown massively, and we moved into a new HQ. More recently, we were thrilled to announce we’d become a carbon neutral company.

We are so, so proud of all that we’ve achieved. But despite it all, one thing has not changed at all.  Not one little bit.

We still put the welfare of our bees at the heart of all that we do. We still do all that we can to fight for their protection and for their future. We still owe it all to them.

What can you do to support National Wildlife Day and bees?

So, for obvious reasons, we’re supporting National Wildlife Day with our precious buzzy friends in mind, and we’re asking you to do your bit to protect them too.

• Stop using pesticides and other chemicals in your gardens
• Plant bee friendly plants and flowers to encourage more bees to visit
• Support local, organic farmers
• Create a bee hotel in your garden to allow bees a safe place to rest
• Teach your kids about the importance of bees and how to live a green lifestyle
• Let your grass grow a little longer so that bees can forage in the dandelions and other weeds
• Help protect your local habitat- pick up some litter, stick to designated paths and recycle what you can

And if you still need a little convincing, let us share with you even more reasons why bees should be your inspiration too:

• Bees have been around for an estimated 25 million years. Imagine if we were the generation who forced them into extinction?
• Bees are worth an estimated 14.5 billion euros to the European economy. That’s HUGE! Without bees, crops will fail and so will many, many businesses as a result. Not to mention the lack of food on our tables!
• Bees are amazing. During the honey-making process, they use their wings (beating at around 200 beats per second!) to create a warm breeze that dries out the nectar and turns it into honey. They are the only insect in the world that creates food which humans can eat. They even have a special dance that shows other bees where to find food. Clever, huh?
• The honey that bees create is so nutritionally dense, that it’s the perfect alternative to sugar for us- and the ideal fuel for bees too. Incidentally, beekeepers will only take the honey that they need, ensuring they leave the rest for the bees- especially important during the winter when food is scarce, and bees rely on honey for essential energy.
• A third of all plants that we eat have been pollinated by bees.

Read more on the amazing work that bees do and why we should be doing our best to protect them in our post on World Wildlife Day our post on World Bee Day and our post on Bees Needs Week.