The campaign to save our bees continues at Chenies Manor with the Help our Honeybees coffee morning next week.

Two years ago, the dramatic decline in the bee population worldwide stirred a group of gardeners and coffee lovers, including Elizabeth MacLeod Matthews, the owner of Chenies Manor, into action and they launched the campaign.

The aim was to actively raise funds towards research into the problems concerning our declining bee population and into how to improve habitat conservation, and to raise public awareness of the situation by assisting two major bee charities, The British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) and The Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

The coffee mornings include an expert speaker, raffles, cakes and coffee, and the chance to look around the glorious gardens at Chenies, which now include a quarter-acre strip of wildflower meadow, designed expressly to attract bees all year round.

Biodiversity scientists say that the UK could face severe shortages of crops that are pollinated by bees and, in terms of crop production, key ingredients such as beans, peas, raspberries and tomatoes would be harder to produce and much more expensive, meaning we will be under increasing threat.

Bees are among the most loved and familiar of our garden insects but in our modern world of paved gardens and intensive agriculture they are finding themselves hungry and homeless. They are also being wiped out by various diseases.

10 ways to help the honey bee – from the British Beekeepers Association

Honey bees are responsible for pollinating one-third of all the foods we eat, yet their number across the world is diminishing at an alarming rate. Here are ten simple things you can do to help save them.

1. Adopt a beehive – if you can’t keep one yourself, the BBKA has a scheme where you can sponsor one (www.adoptabeehive.com).

2. Make a honey bee-friendly habitat – plant flowers like asters and sunflowers, hollyhocks, larkspur and foxgloves; vegetables such as peas and beans; flowering herbs like mint and rosemary; fruit trees.

3. Encourage your local authority to be a friend of the honey bee – could they ‘donate’ community spaces like parks, roundabouts or flowerbeds? (www.friendsof thehoneybee.com) 4. If you have spare space, let a local beekeeper use it – the bees will pollinate your garden! Contact your local beekeeping association who will put you in touch with someone (www.pollinationdating.com) 5. If you spot a swarm of honey bees, report it – to your local authority or the police who will contact a local beekeeper. They’re usually very gentle – they’re just trying to increase their numbers – but should be left undisturbed.

6. Don’t keep unwashed honey jars outside the back door! – honey brought from overseas can contain bacteria and spores that are very harmful to honey bees.

7. Contact your MP – more money needs to be directed towards research into honey bee diseases, so make sure your MP is aware and ask for their help.

8. Invite a beekeeper to visit – your local group, school or club could learn about the facts and folklore surrounding this fascinating and ancient species.

9. Buy locally-produced honey – it’s processed naturally and will comply with all food standards requirements. The taste will reflect your area’s flora and you’ll be helping local beekeepers cover their costs – and protecting our honeybees!