Local shoemaker, Cosyfeet, has created a real buzz for bees by raising a whopping £14,230 for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. The money was raised as a percentage of revenue from sales of selected Cosyfeet slipper styles for people with swollen feet.

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust does wonderful work at Somerset locations such as Shapwick Heath and Lytes Cary Manor, as well as with farmers, landowners and communities to help bumblebee species survive and thrive. The Trust works to increase the quality and quantity of bee-friendly habitat, enhance the understanding of bumblebee ecology through scientific research, raise awareness of the 'plight of the bumblebee' and inspire people to take simple actions to help, such as planting bee-friendly flowers.

 The rarest bumblebee in England and Wales, the Shrill Carder Bee, continues to thrive in certain Somerset locations and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust is working on vital projects to protect this and other rare species.

 "Like many Somerset people, the team at Cosyfeet are proud of our precious countryside and thrilled to support a charity that champions bumblebees," says Cosyfeet Shop Manager Liz Quartley. "The takeaway message for us all is to plant more bee-friendly garden flowers to provide bumblebees with nectar for energy and pollen for protein."

Cosyfeet Shop Manager, Liz Quartley, shows off a cheque for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

Cosyfeet, based in Street, raise money for charity as a central part of their company culture and have donated over £100,000 to local and national charity initiatives. They have worked with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust since 2020.

To find out more about how you could help bumblebees, including which flowering plants are most beneficial, visit www.bumblebeeconservation.org

To find out more about Cosyfeet footwear for swollen feet visit www.cosyfeet.com or visit their shop at The Tanyard in Street.