Protecting our bees

Bee populations are decreasing globally at an alarming rate. With your help, we can protect our bees, our food security and our ecosystem health.

When most of us think of bees, we think of honey. But we often don't think about the vital role bees play in feeding us all.

The Wheen Bee Foundation

The Wheen Bee Foundation is an Australian registered not-for-profit charity that promotes awareness of the importance of bees for food security, and raises funds for research that addresses the national and global threats to bees.

We engage with all levels of government, the apiculture industry, bee reliant food industries, universities, research organisations and community. We fund vital strategic research, education and conservation initiatives that strengthen bees, improve pollination efficiency and increase food security and ecosystem health.

Take action

Helping our bee populations thrive is vital to the wellbeing and future of all Australians. Fortunately, there are a few simple things you can do to help.

Buy Australian Honey

Supporting Australian beekeepers helps the Australian beekeeping industry remain viable and build pollination security for our bee-reliant food industries.

Plant a bee-friendly garden

Bees need more habitat and there are a wide variety of plants for all garden sizes that attract and nourish bees, from eucalyptus trees to tasty herbs and vegetables.

Avoid pesticides

Support bee-friendly farming and gardening practices. Many pesticides and agricultural chemicals are harmful to bees and other pollinators. Where possible, buy or produce food grown without the use of harmful chemicals.

Make a donation

All donations to Wheen Bee Foundation help us address the national and global threats to bees by providing funding to much-needed research, education and conservation activities.

Latest initiatives

Below you’ll find some of our latest initiatives and programs designed to help.

Business Buddy Program

If you’re a business, you too could help support Wheen Bee Foundation by becoming a Business Buddy like Hoselink.

School Bee Incursions

Delivered nationally by accredited Bee Ambassadors. Available as classroom or online delivery.

A Teachers' Guide to Bees

Helping to establish a clear pathway for incorporating bees into the school curriculum.

The need

Bees help to pollinate most of the crops we eat and many that feed farm livestock. But bee populations are dying at an alarming rate worldwide, causing a serious risk to our food security.

Your support

Help ensure our food security by funding important research and activities for a healthy bee population.

The need

Bees help to pollinate most of the crops we eat and many that feed farm livestock. But bee populations are dying at an alarming rate worldwide, causing a serious risk to our food security.

Your support

Help ensure our food security by funding important research and activities for a healthy honey bee population.

Stories from the hive

The Queen of bee research

April 9, 2022 No Comments

When Wheen Bee Foundation founding director Linton Briggs AO was running the North Eastern Apiarists’ Association in the early 1960s he invited some of the

Varroa research update, plus the latest tech tracks hive health

April 7, 2022 No Comments

French scientist who conducted research at the Wheen Bee Foundation Research Apiary to test the effect of a herb-based pesticide on bees is now hoping to apply space-age technology to the Australian bee industry.

Remembering Linton Briggs AM

March 1, 2022 No Comments

The Wheen Bee Foundation has launched a video tribute and an ongoing Fund to honour Linton Briggs AM who passed away on 28 April 2020.

The buzz from our donors

Donated on behalf of Hazel, for her second birthday.

Keep up the good work.

Hi! I love bees! I raised this money with my best friend by running an orange juice stand. I really hope that together we can save some bees!

I've loved bees my whole life, and slowly watched their numbers dwindle. It's heartbreaking. Please save the bees.

In honour of the bee my mum stood on 🙁

As a beekeeper and Vice President of a Beekeepers Club I like the work you do and the research you fund. I hope my monthly donation helps you to continue.

Happy third birthday Hazel!

Thank you for your efforts.

This donation was a part of my uni depth study into the decline of the bee population.

From profits from activities for visitors.

Thanks for helping support and save our bees!

We are donating some of our profits from our small business selling bees wax food wraps. Thank you for your work saving the bees!

I make this donation on behalf of my grand daughter Martha (8) who helped raise the funds by sewing scrunchies for a recent garden themed market.

My daughter earned this by selling cupcakes.

Donation from Yr 10 students.

Our group ran workshops on living more sustainably in 2019 and this is the proceeds from our raffle. Keep up this important work.

We have gifted our clients a donation to you!

We are so sorry for what your country is going through and we wish you strength as you begin to rebuild.

Sorry that Australia has lost so much in the wake of these fires. Keep up the amazing work.

All the best with your work.

Thank you for the work you do!

From a passionate bee lover, my donation will be given as a gift to a good friend.

Your thoughts are with us out here.

The fires have been an utter tragedy for wildlife. Best wishes for the success of your efforts.

Hope you manage to rebuild the everything, best wishes.

Thank you for all you are doing to make honey-lovers aware of the needs and importance of our bees.

Without bees we have nothing. Thank you.

Great job. I hope you reach the target to help these special bees.

It's not much. But please save them.

I am very glad that your organisation exists to help stop the destruction of our Bee population.

I’m so sorry Kangaroo Island has been destroyed by the recent fires. I hope this helps a little bit.

Donated by Yr 10 students at St Luke's Grammar School

Keep up the amazing work! Donated on behalf of Daniel, a true bee lover

On behalf of my grand daughter who will be 1year old on the 11th January, 2022.

This donation comes from 10% of my bee jewellery collection being donated each quarter.

This donation comes from the Bushrangers Cadet Unit at Rossmoyne SHS who made and sold beeswax wraps and succulents to raise money for the Wheen Bee Foundation 🙂

This donation is on behalf of two wonderful girls – Ainsle and Maddie.

This donation is from pinot and picasso Ballarat – our session held during Australian Pollinator week, raised $20 per ticket sold for Wheen Bee Foundation.

With love from the Buzzed Project, a Bond University Student initiative. We had fun raising this money and know it is going towards a good cause.