6:40pm Friday 16th July 2010
New Holland and the BBKA reveal the fruits of their partnership at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show The colour and spectacle of the Hampton Court Palace Flower show is legendary – and on the twentieth anniversary of the largest show of its kind in the world, there was a new addition to the colourful display: From the 6th July to the 11th July, New Holland’s powerful bright blue machines were there, amongst the blooms, to support their partners, the British Beekeepers’ Association.
New Holland joined forces with the BBKA in January to find ways to help Britain’s beleaguered honey bees: The honey bees’ numbers have seen drastic and alarming declines in recent years and without the bees farmers, growers and gardeners would lose their vital ‘pollination army’ – an army that is thought to contribute £200 million to the agricultural economy every year.
To encourage more people to keep bees and help boost the honey bee numbers, New Holland has helped to fund a BBKA scheme called “Course in a Case” – a portable beekeeping course aimed initially at beginners – officially launched at Hampton Court.
Located within an avenue of apple trees there was a New Holland T4040F fruit tractor, towing an apple train. The British Bee Keeping Association was there too, with a display of bee hives within the orchard area.
Tim Lovett, the former president of the BBKA says the flower show was the ideal launch pad for the Course in a Case scheme: “Gardeners are honey bees’ best friends and we were delighted to launch the Course in a Case at Hampton Court. This is the first stage of a radical new three-year beekeeper self-development programme which will be followed by ‘Cases’ for Novices, Improvers, Proficient and Master Beekeepers. The first Case is being distributed through BBKA’s local associations and branches.”
New Holland’s marketing manager Richard Spencer says the plight of the UK’s bees is inextricably linked with the agricultural industry.
“Honeybees are an essential element of agricultural production in the UK. Not only are they vital for gardens and horticulture, they are also necessary for the successful harvest of oil seed rape, borage and other crops. Their contribution to British wildlife pollinating wild berries and seeds is impossible to quantify. In short, the crisis in the honeybee population could easily become another crisis for UK farming and have a serious impact on the livelihoods of Britain’s farmers, so we want to join the BBKA in encouraging as many people as possible to get involved in beekeeping to boost the honey bee population.
“To that end, New Holland has helped to fund the Course in a Case scheme and has also invited the BBKA to join the New Holland stand at the LAMMA, Cereals and Bath & West shows. At each event, the BBKA’s presence and the efforts we are making as a partnership have been incredibly well received. We hope our appearance with the BBKA at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show generates just as much enthusiasm.”
For more information on New Holland products and partnership with the BBKA, please visit www.newholland.com
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