RANGE REVIEW: MADE IN BRITAIN
Blenheim Palace and Rowse Honey crowned Bees’ Needs Champions
Blenheim Palace and Rowse Honey are celebrating after winning a top Government award recognising their joint commitment to protecting pollinators and enhancing biodiversity.
The duo have been named a Bees’ Needs Champion at an awards
ceremony led by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA). The awards aim to raise awareness of the importance of bees and other pollinators by recognising individuals, groups and organisations that have made exceptional efforts to support pollinators. Starting in 2022, Blenheim Palace joined forces with Rowse Honey to deliver an ambitious conservation project to transform the Oxfordshire estate, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, into a thriving haven for pollinators, such as butterflies, honeybees, mining bees and damselflies. It set out to restore pollinator habitats, including supporting existing wild bee colonies, enhancing soil health, reconnecting fragmented ecological corridors and regenerating wildflower meadows across the estate. As part of the initiative, 50 acres of former arable fields have been transformed into rich, biodiverse habitats, and 300 acres of new woodlands have been undersown with wildflower grassland. The project’s success has been clearly measurable, with over 740 colonies of wild bees, 23 species of butterflies, and the return of 11 nationally declining bird species, such as skylarks and song thrushes, to areas restored under the pollinator strategy. Roy Cox, Managing Director of Estates at Blenheim Palace, said: “We’re
incredibly proud to receive the Bees’ Needs Champions Award. This recognition reflects the hard work and passion of our teams and our shared mission with Rowse Honey to protect and enhance the Blenheim Palace estate’s natural ecosystem. Preserving this, and the species that depend on it for future generations, is an important part of Britain’s Greatest Palace’s ongoing Land Strategy, and a leading example of pollinator-first land regeneration on a heritage estate in the UK.”
The Rubble Sack tough enough for a Georgian mansion restoration
Binit’s Extra Strong Rubble Sacks were put to the test recently in a live North Wales heritage project, proving their durability in real-world renovation.
A late-18th-century mansion in North Wales is currently undergoing a major restoration, with collapsing ceilings, stripped walls and tonnes of rubble to clear. For the homeowners, waste management has been one of the biggest challenges.
Their solution has been Binit’s Extra Strong Rubble Sacks. Made in Britain from 100 per cent recycled plastic, the bags have been used daily for months to carry heavy debris, timber, plaster and green waste.
Carly Dyson, homeowner says:
“We have been working through collapsing ceilings, crumbling plaster and endless garden clearance. The Binit rubble sacks have been the only bags that could cope with the workload.”
A spokesperson from Binit says: “These are not ordinary bags. Our rubble sacks are engineered for heavy-duty performance. Seeing them survive the toughest conditions of a heritage renovation is proof of their reliability.” With ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications and membership of Made in Britain, Binit’s range has become a trusted choice for both trade and domestic customers. The Extra Strong Rubble Sacks are joined by Ultra Heavy Duty Refuse Sacks, Everyday Refuse Sacks and Wheelie Bin Liners, giving merchants and builders a complete waste solution range.
About Binit Binit manufactures waste disposal solutions that are stronger, greener and more reliable. Every product is made in Britain from 100% recycled plastic, tested for strength and certified to the highest standards. Visit
binitbags.com
(L-R) Heather Carter (Managing Director Visitor Attraction at Blenheim Palace), Mary Creagh CBE MP, Svitlana Ilchenko (Rowse Honey), Samantha Vaughan (Blenheim Palace).
Svitlana Ilchenko, Brand Manager at Rowse Honey, added: “This award is a testament to what can be achieved when like-minded partners come together with a shared purpose. At Rowse Honey, protecting the pollinators and working with Blenheim Palace to create a lasting legacy for biodiversity has been truly inspiring. By creating habitats where bees, butterflies and birds can thrive we can reverse the decline that pollinators face.”
• For more information about Blenheim Palace and Rowse Honey’s partnership, visit
www.blenheimpalace.com/stories/rowse-pollinator-
partnership.html
New smart device designed to save water and reduce risk of flooding
SealStop, the clever British-made automatic shut-off valve designed to eliminate water waste and save gardeners time, made its debut at the recent Glee 2025 trade show.
What is SealStop?
SealStop attaches to a hosepipe and clips on to any container, from watering cans and buckets to troughs and ponds. Once the container is full, it automatically shuts off the flow of water, preventing overflow and eliminating waste. It’s a time-saving solution that allows gardeners to multitask confidently, knowing their water use is under control.
Maximising retail opportunity Stockists can expect shelf-ready, fully recyclable packaging, along with strong point-of-sale support. This includes a branded CDU display, demo units, staff training options and access to digital assets like videos, imagery and explainers for online and social channels. The brand is also developing a free- standing display with integrated video support for retailers looking to drive visibility in high-footfall areas. Already rated ‘Excellent’ on
Trustpilot, early customers have praised SealStop’s reliability, simple design and game-changing functionality. It’s particularly popular
24 DIY WEEK SEPTEMBER 2025
among gardeners filling large containers, topping up ponds or water butts, or working with multiple watering cans at once. With a minimum order quantity of just 12 units, SealStop is an accessible opportunity for both independents and larger chains alike. Manufactured and assembled in the UK, lead times are short, and stock is held locally, making fulfilment smooth and responsive. As the brand looks ahead to the 2026 season, new developments are already in the pipeline, including a specialised holder designed to make SealStop even easier to use with hot tubs, ice baths and larger outdoor containers. Retailers interested in stocking SealStop or learning more should visit
www.sealstop.co.uk or email
info@sealstop.co.uk
www.diyweek.net
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
