- Rolls-Royce gears up to celebrate World Bee Day on 20th May with various activities planned both locally and globally
- In 2017, the Goodwood Apiary was established and is now home to six beehives containing over 250,000 honeybees
- To mark Rolls-Royce’s 120th anniversary, the beehives have been renamed after six key figures, known as the ‘Makers of the Marque’, from the company’s founding story that dates back to 4th May 1904
- Existing Rolls-Royce Apiaries in the UK, UAE, and South Africa will soon be joined by new colonies in Oman and Bahrain
“World Bee Day is a significant event for Rolls-Royce, and this year, our involvement extends globally, with activities taking place in five countries. At the original Apiary at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, we had the pleasure of hosting our Junior Beekeeper, Poppy Liddle, for her first inspection this year. She was one of the first to witness the newly named hives, a part of our 120th-anniversary celebrations. We are proud to acknowledge and appreciate the crucial role of bees and other pollinators alongside beekeepers, conservationists, and caring individuals worldwide.”
Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations and Heritage, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars traditionally observes World Bee Day on 20th of May. This year, the festivities have an international scope with activities planned at the original Apiary in Goodwood and new beekeeping ventures set up overseas by the company.
GOODWOOD
The original Goodwood Apiary was
set up in 2017 in response to the alarming decline in the honeybee population, essential pollinators for numerous food crops and wild plants.
The Apiary houses approximately 250,000 honeybees. Annually, the honey produced is carefully processed, packaged, and labeled by a dedicated team of volunteer beekeepers. The honey is exclusively available to visiting clients and VIPs.
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Prior to World Bee Day this year, Poppy Liddle, an honorary Junior Beekeeper, returned to the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood. Poppy, residing in Selsey, West Sussex, captured the marque’s attention in 2021 when her beehive was stolen, as reported in the local newspaper. Touched by her story, Rolls-Royce arranged for Poppy, then eight years old, to visit the Goodwood bees, where she was appointed as the Junior Beekeeper.
During her first inspection this year, Poppy had to manage the swarm of bees in a nearby tree. With the assistance of beekeeper Jay Hampton, she successfully brought them back to the Apiary. There, she also had the honor of inaugurating the newly named hives.
Initially named after Rolls-Royce model names like Phantom, Ghost, Dawn, Wraith, and Cullinan, in 2017, with the sixth named Spirit of Ecstasy, these hives have been rechristened after significant figures from the company’s founding narrative as part of the 120th-anniversary celebrations. The hives now bear names such as Charles Rolls, Henry Royce, and Eleanor Thornton, engraved on stainless-steel treadplates like those found on the Phantom.
After the ceremony, Poppy was given a private tour of the Home of Rolls-Royce, led by some of the skilled Apprentices undergoing training at the company.
To mark World Bee Day and as part of its broader community initiatives, Rolls-Royce employees and members of the Chichester Beekeeping Association visited the nearby March CE Primary School. Students from Years 1 and 2 were given a close look at an empty beehive and beekeeping tools, learning about the crucial role of bees as pollinators in sustaining biodiversity.
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A HIVE OF ACTIVITY: ROLLS-ROYCE APIARIES AROUND THE
WORLD
Following the success of the Goodwood Apiary, Rolls-Royce has expanded its beekeeping operations to other regions worldwide.
UAE
The Dubai Apiary was inaugurated on World Bee Day in 2021 by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Middle East & Africa and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai (AGMC). Similar to the Goodwood Apiary, the Dubai location consists of six hives specially designed to withstand the high temperatures of the Emirates. The bees at this Apiary are native to the region, adapted from the indigenous Apis mellifera jemenitica bee, perfectly suited to the local climate.
Home to 60,000 Emirati honeybees, the Apiary serves as a sanctuary for other pollinator species and an important educational center. Since 2023, it has hosted workshops focusing on the significance of pollinators in maintaining biodiversity, healthy ecosystems, and food security, inspiring students from schools and universities across the country.
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SOUTH AFRICA
Established in 2023 in collaboration with Grootbos Foundation, the Rolls-Royce Apiary in Johannesburg was the second initiative of its kind in the Middle East & Africa region. Situated in an award-winning 3,500-hectare private nature reserve, the six beehives contribute to conserving the reserve’s pristine environment and local bee population.
Prior to World Bee Day, Rolls-Royce announced the addition of two new Apiaries to its expanding international network.
SAUDI ARABIA
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Riyadh has set up five beehives in Baljurashi, located in the south-west of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Baljurashi is a part of the Al Baha region, known for its thriving apicultural industry and annual International Honey Festival, which draws experts from over 30 countries.
OMAN
In its ongoing efforts to preserve pollinators in the region, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Muscat has installed four new beehives at the Alila Jabal Akhdar resort, situated 2,000 meters above sea level.
BAHRAIN
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Bahrain is introducing five new beehives at the Royal Golf Club, located in the heart of the Kingdom, just 20 minutes from the capital, Manama.