Bees are vital to our future and for a healthy planet, but currently face many threats. The purpose of the Trust is to support research and to encourage young scientists through the provision of research grants for studies that benefit bees and beekeeping. Grants of up to £50,000 are typically available each year and research has covered areas such as bee pathogens, pollination and broader ecological concepts. More about the Trust and the research it has funded is available on our website.
The Trust is a relatively small charity (Registered No. 328685) and grants are financed by income generated from a bequest from the founder, Mr C B Dennis, which is managed on our behalf by an investment management company. The Trust has capital of about £1.25 million invested, but is not actively engaged in fund raising.
The Trust funds research at Universities and Institutes into bees in general and supports young scientists through studentships and travel grants to enable them to gain qualifications and experience. Submitted proposals are evaluated on scientific merit and relevance to bees and beekeeping in the UK.