e are an educational charity specialising in orchards / skep beekeeping and countryside knowledge throughout history.

Bees and Trees was formed as an educational charity more than 25 years ago.

Structured as a limited company it has undertaken a series of projects over the years.

Our focus was initially on rescuing traditional varieties of fruit, mostly in the Welsh marches, and promoting native strain beekeeping in straw skep hives.

We have been running junior skep making at Shrewsbury Flower Show for many years with as many as 60 skeps being exhibited by children.

 Perhaps the biggest element of a positive relationship between people and the natural world is a house. The current base for bees and trees was bought in 1995 and shortly afterwards Paul began one of our favourite activities; Building a 3rd scale timber framed Tudor house, based on the end bay of Whitton cottage itself; hugely popular at shows, the construction industry training board approached bees and trees and funded a 3 year project on promoting this as a school activity. 

Martha learnt skep making as a child, and in recent years has moved into teaching and spreading the craft of making skeps, while Paul continues spreading knowledge about skep beekeeping and its importance through talks and courses on keeping bees in skeps.

Partners include (or have included) 

Trees -

Brogdale Horticultural Trust (National apple collection)

Dr Joan Morgan 

The Marches Apple Network 

Shropshire Wildlife Trust 

The Big Apple 

Bees-

BBKA National Environmental Issues Committee 

BIBBA National Committee Members

Brian Goodwin - Shropshire Beekeepers Association