What We Do
Our mission is to bring nature and the bee story to communities and schools, to create interest and change lives, and to inspire a new generation of environmental activists and beekeepers to sustain our natural world. Just as important, we bring people together so that the land around us can support bees and all pollinators for generations to come.
- I.
Bees in our Time
Helping people understand the importance of all bees, what bees can teach us, and how we can create an environment where humans, bees and all pollinators can thrive.
- II.
Nature in Harmony
Creating interest and attention in the natural world of bees, insects, birds and plant life, and fostering a strong sense of belonging by connecting with the environment.
- III.
Wellness in the Community
Supporting vulnerable young people and adults in personal growth, wellbeing and resilience, and helping them foster a genuine love of nature.
- IV.
Connecting for Nature
Bringing farmers, landowners, parishes and conservation groups together to join up habitats, so that pollinators can move freely through the landscape.
Connecting for Nature
Joining up the landscape
Bees and other pollinators cannot thrive in isolated pockets of green. They need hedgerows, field margins, verges, meadows and gardens that link up, forming corridors they can travel along to find food and shelter through the seasons.
No single farm, parish or charity can create that on its own. So we act as a connector: introducing farmers and landowners to one another and to the people who can help, sharing ideas and resources, and supporting local conversations about green corridors around Basingstoke and a farmer-led farm cluster to the west of the town.
We work alongside parish councils, local conservation groups and the county's nature recovery teams, and we bring the Charles Butler story with us: a reminder that this landscape has been cared for by people who paid close attention to it for over 400 years.
How you can join in
- Farmers and landowners: talk to us about hedgerows, margins and wild corners, and about working with your neighbours.
- Parish councils: gentler verge and hedge cutting, and wildflower spaces, make a real difference.
- Conservation and community groups: let us connect your work with others nearby.
- Households and schools: every pollinator-friendly garden and school ground is a stepping stone.
How we can help
- We help children, teenagers and adults who may be going through real difficulties to connect with nature and the bee story, and to find the calm that time outdoors can bring.
- We work with schools and community groups on projects that spark curiosity, teamwork and pride in learning, in meaningful and imaginative ways.
- We support your projects so that young people can see why a sustainable environment matters for humans, bees and all pollinators.
- We teach stewardship of nature and wild places through the way a bee colony works together for the good of the hive.
Nature's helping hand
Time in nature helps improve focus and attention. It has a calming effect that helps people feel more relaxed and happier, and it can ease feelings of isolation by fostering a sense of belonging.
Building on Charles Butler's remarkable observations of his honey bees, we hope to inspire future generations to create their own biodiverse wildlife habitats.
Kind words
Inclusion School working in partnership with Ken and Barbara from the Charles Butler 400 Foundation has been a wonderful experience. Together, we brought to life The Bee Story. It was a whole-school project, enriching learning in meaningful and imaginative ways.
As an SEMH school, engagement and emotional connection are key to learning. The bee-themed curriculum provided that, with not only academic learning but practical experiences such as artwork, cooking and shopping for bee-friendly plants at the garden centre. Ken and Barbara's enthusiasm, knowledge and passion for bees helped inspire a sense of wonder and curiosity across the school.
Through carefully planned, cross-curricular lessons, our students explored the vital role bees play in our ecosystem. We saw enterprise projects buzzing with creativity, artwork blooming with colour, and children proudly preparing bee-themed dishes in cooking. In English, learners wrote detailed instructions for making bee drinkers, and in Science they explored ideas like surface tension in hands-on ways.
One of the highlights was the thoughtful assemblies led by Ken, where students tasted honey, examined the inner workings of a hive, and experienced the world of bees up close. These assemblies were not only informative but practical, with students rolling their own wax candles: sensory experiences that made learning tangible and memorable.
This collaboration has been a great example of how community partnerships can enhance education. The project encouraged curiosity and teamwork, giving every learner the chance to get involved and be proud of their learning. We are grateful to Ken, Barbara and the Charles Butler 400 Foundation for their generosity.
Inclusion School, Basingstoke, June 2025