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We began Outermost with the idea that the brand would help protect our threatened Wild, a place where we love to spend our time and feel the benefits of being in nature. So, added to our donations to various environmental projects from every sale, we also have special weekend offers where we partner with specific organisations who are working hard to protect parts of our planet and deserve help of any form.<\/p>
One such weekend is our 'One Tee, One Bee'. Over these specific weekends, every order funds the purchase of wildflower seeds for The Bumblebee Conservation Trust to create much-needed habitat for the UK\u2019s bumblebees. We learned from the pros that if you want to support a bee, support wildflowers. If you provide them with the resources they need to thrive, nature takes care of the rest.<\/p>
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Bumblebee conservation is an area we've decided to focus on because populations have declined dramatically in the last 80 years, with three native species becoming extinct. Out of the remaining 24 bumblebee species, eight are now at risk. The impact of 'One Tee, One Bee' will help create habitat which has been lost in the UK due to a number of factors including intensification of agriculture, increased use of pesticides, climate change, and pests and disease in wild pollinators.<\/p>
Each Outermost Apparel order across these weekends will help The Bumblebee Conservation Trust's work securing bee friendly habitats, with the funds going to seed at least 1 metre squared of wildflower habitat. Roughly the area needed to support one bee. The donation will go directly to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust who will organise and sow the wildflowers all around the UK on our behalf.<\/p>
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Packets of wildflower seeds can contain a number of plant species including wild red clover, cornflower, field poppy, viper's bugloss and wild marjoram. Variety ensures different bumblebee species can access the nectar. Some bumblebee species are only found in \u2018pockets\u2019 around the UK and need different habitat, which is why funding the purchase of wildflower seeds of choice will help more of our vulnerable bumblebee populations to thrive. Our weekend campaign will particularly support the West Country Buzz Project in Devon, which protects the two rarest species of bees in the country. The project provides seeds, monitors bee populations and offers advice for landowners and communities to work together in joining up bumblebee habitats. This allows more isolated bee populations to move around freely.<\/p>
Supporting bumblebee populations also supports biodiversity. Many species of wildflowers would not produce any seeds without the bees' help. These plants are often the basis of complex food chains. This means that supporting bees supports other wild animals who will benefit from the food and shelter offered by the plants they pollinate.<\/p>
Wildflower seeds can be sown all year round and ours are sown in Autumn. This means the wildflowers will start to blossom in spring, when bumblebee queens emerge from hibernation and need a source of food ready to search for a nesting site to start a colony. From there, cutting an area of habitat in Autumn and removing the clippings is an important part of land management. This retains low nutrient levels in the soil to suppress coarse grasses which would otherwise out-compete the wildflowers.<\/p>
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust works to raise awareness of the decline in the UK\u2019s bumblebee population and aims to increase the number and distribution of bumblebees. We're pleased to be working with them to ensure every order helps our bumblebees and the ecosystems they underpin.<\/p>