Young nature lovers across Oxfordshire are being invited to take part in a new summer challenge at Blenheim Palace , and it’s all about the bees.
This July, Blenheim Palace, in partnership with local honey producer Rowse Honey, is launching the ‘Bee on the Lookout’ Eco Count, an interactive nature trail designed to engage families with the biodiversity thriving across the estate.
The initiative, which begins on Saturday 12th July and runs throughout the school summer holidays, encourages children to become wildlife spotters as they roam the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s stunning gardens and parklands.
Minibeasts, Maps and Meadows
Armed with maps and checklists, young explorers will be tasked with counting minibeasts, from bees and butterflies to beetles and ladybirds, along one of two newly launched Rowse Honey Nature Trails. Findings will be logged online to contribute to a final “eco count” to be revealed at the end of the summer.
Little explorers can take on a shorter route through the potager garden, butterfly house and kitchen garden.
Older adventurers can follow a longer trail, stopping at the water terraces, rose garden, and the historic cascades designed by Capability Brown.
Both trails are designed to highlight the Palace’s natural beauty while teaching children about the importance of pollinators and biodiversity in a fun, hands-on way.
A Buzzing Conservation Mission
The Eco Count is part of a wider conservation push by Blenheim Palace and Rowse Honey, who have been working together since 2023 to restore habitats for pollinators across the 2,000-acre estate. To date, 50 acres of wildflower meadows have been created, providing sustainable nectar sources for bees and homes for insects and birds.
Heather Carter, Managing Director at Blenheim Palace, said:
We’re fortunate to have a rich and diverse ecosystem here at Blenheim Palace – our gardens and parkland provide an ideal habitat for a wide range of species. The Eco Count is a fantastic way to spark children’s curiosity and help them connect with nature, while learning just how important insects are for keeping ecosystems in balance – we might even inspire the next generation of David Attenboroughs along the way!”
Marine Bourbon, Head of Marketing at Rowse Honey, added:
We’re proud to partner with Blenheim Palace on this exciting initiative to inspire the next generation of nature lovers. At Rowse, we believe protecting pollinators is vital to preserving our planet’s biodiversity. Projects like the ‘Bee on the Lookout’ Eco Count are a fun, engaging way to bring that message to life, as well as our Hives for Lives apprenticeship, launched in 2014 to train young people into a career as a bee farmer.”
How to Take Part
Participation in the ‘Bee on the Lookout’ Eco Count is free with general admission to Blenheim Palace during the summer holidays. Maps and checklists are available at both the Walled Garden and Formal Garden entrances.
For more information or to plan your visit, head to blenheimpalace.com/rowse-honey-nature-trails
Why Bees Matter: Protecting Our Pollinators
Bees are more than just honey-makers, they’re essential to life on Earth. As key pollinators, they support the ecosystems that grow the food we eat and maintain the biodiversity of plants and wildlife we depend on.
In fact, around one-third of the world’s food production relies on pollination by bees and other insects. From apples and strawberries to nuts and seeds, bees play a vital role in global agriculture and natural food webs. But today, their survival is under threat from habitat loss, pesticides, climate change, and disease.
That’s why initiatives like Blenheim Palace’s ‘Bee on the Lookout’ Eco Count and ongoing conservation work with Rowse Honey are so important.
Meet Rowse Honey: Oxfordshire’s Bee Champions
Founded in 1938 by Tony Rowse, a passionate beekeeper from Oxfordshire, Rowse Honey has grown to become the UK’s favourite honey brand, available in every major supermarket across the country. Despite its success, the brand has stayed true to its roots: every jar of Rowse honey is 100% pure and natural, and traceable right back to the hive.
Beyond producing delicious honey, Rowse is deeply committed to bee welfare. Their pioneering Hives for Lives programme supports the health of bees and the livelihoods of beekeepers through research, apprenticeships, and education.
They partner with leading organisations like:
🐝 Blenheim Estate – for land restoration and pollinator-friendly meadows
🐝 Bee Farmers Association (BFA) – to support and train UK bee farmers
🐝 Bees for Development (BFD) – helping communities worldwide through sustainable beekeeping
🐝 LASI at Sussex University – conducting cutting-edge bee research
Through these partnerships, Rowse is helping protect pollinators for future generations, one hive at a time.
