Bees for Development is buzzing with excitement as the charity celebrates a Silver Gilt Medal for its Balcony Garden exhibit, Making Life Better with Bees, at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025.

The week began on a high note with a visit from Her Majesty The Queen, President of Bees for Development, and Patron Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on Monday 19 May. Their visit brought national attention to the charity’s message: that bees and beekeeping can help solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.

The celebrations continued on Tuesday 20 May; World Bee Day was marked with the unveiling of the award, meeting with Catherine Fookes, MP for Monmouthshire, many conversations with visitors, and renewed public support for nature-based solutions to climate change, biodiversity loss, and poverty.

Designed by Humble-Bee Gardeners and supported by The London Honey Company and EH Thorne Beehives Ltd, the Balcony Garden transformed a small urban space into a vibrant retreat—buzzing with colour, biodiversity, and practical inspiration.

Drawing inspiration from Africa and the deep connections between bees, people, and biodiversity, the garden featured:

Traditional English and African beehives, showing sustainable approaches to beekeeping

A hexagonal bench for privacy and rest

A feature wall with vertical planting and solitary bee habitats

Planters repurposed from honey barrels and beehives

A windfallen oak trunk showcasing a traditional African log hive

A rich tapestry of pollinator-friendly plants such as Agapanthus, Kniphofia, and Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Ruby Lace’, grown in peat-free compost

The exhibit is a powerful call to action: no matter where you live, you can make life better with bees.

Based in Monmouth, Wales, Bees for Development has a proud track record at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with previous medals including Silver (2018), Bronze (2021), Silver (2022), Silver-Gilt (2024) and now a Silver-Gilt (2025).