A FARM near Droitwich Spa is one of only 15 sites across the country to be chosen to help the declining honeybee population.

Wildgoose Rural Care Farm, in Holt Heath, has been selected by cosmetics company Lush to host two hives with more sustainable honey for its factory production.

The announcement follows the news that Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has backed a campaign to save the region’s bees.

Susan Bayliss, from Wildgoose Farm, said: “We are thrilled to have received two top bar hives from Lush, and are looking forward to our first bee colony moving in. Lush have also provided an excellent training course in sustainable beekeeping, so we know how to look after the bees with less emphasis on farming them.

“Bees are in trouble worldwide and we need to act now to help to restore the natural population. It is said that in the UK we have lost over 10,000 beehives in the last 50 years.

“It is also exciting to think that honey gathered from bees we look after here at Wildgoose will go into cosmetic products used by hundreds of people across the UK.”

The top bar hive mimics the bees' natural home in a hollow tree. It is hoped that a return to this form of beekeeping will promote better health and genetic diversity, so enabling a colony to fight off pests and diseases.

Wildgoose supports vulnerable adults and young people through activities at its 1.5 acre smallholding.

For more information about the charity, visit wildgooseruraltraining.org