EATS Rosyth and 2B Scientific
EATS Rosyth are a community led charity acting with the purpose of advancement of food education, citizenship, community development, environmental protection and improvement, and the relief of those in need.
Their ambitions are to grow and share food, reduce waste, help the environment and improve food education, and provide welcoming spaces which inspire people to connect and grow, helping to build a more vibrant, resilient community. With a variety of diverse and ambitious projects – through their connection to food and nature – they actively improve health and social inclusion, which is vital for the wellbeing of everyone.
EATS Rosyth have a Community Garden, a Community Hub and a Centenary Orchard encouraging people to get involved in making the town a better place. It is open every day of the year and entry is free.
Within their Community Garden, there is a dedicated beekeeping project where volunteers help with the hives, and the bees contribute to the pollination of the flowers, vegetables and plants. The bees also produce honey that is enjoyed by visitors to the site.
Beyond providing delicious honey, the bees at EATS Rosyth perform a crucial role in supporting the entire ecosystem of the community garden and surrounding area. As they travel from flower to flower collecting nectar and pollen, they transfer pollen, which is essential for the fertilization of plants. This process of pollination is the driving force behind the growth of the fruits and vegetables harvested in the garden, directly contributing to the food supply for local residents. The bees' tireless work ensures a bountiful harvest, fostering a stronger, more sustainable connection between the community and the food it consumes.
EATS Rosyth teach in all 4 primary schools in Rosyth where observation hives are brought in as part of the pollination sessions. They run many more events where beekeeping is a core element.
Many families come and have a nice walk around every day and they often ask about the bees.
In January 2025, the ESES Communities Team met with personnel from 2BScientific whose head office is based in Oxfordshire. 2BScientific is a leading distributor of innovative life science products, serving customers in the UK, Europe, and worldwide and are part of the University of Edinburgh's supply chain.
Their sustainability efforts apply across all facets of their company and they frequently make donations to Bees for Development and the British Beekeepers Association to ensure that both the environment is conserved and maintained for the benefit of both people and bees.
It's a privilege to support local efforts that make a real difference to people and the planet. We're proud to play a small part in helping communities thrive.
The University of Edinburgh have been working with their suppliers to ensure that they leave a positive legacy within the ESES City Region, and as part of this activity encouraged 2BScientific to sign up to our portal to enable them to deliver local Community Benefits.
Hence, following our discussions and subsequent collaboration, 2BScientific provided a donation to EATS Rosyth to support their beekeeping project.
“We’re committed to supporting local initiatives that promote environmental sustainability and community wellbeing. This request aligned closely with our values, so we were keen to offer our support.
We provided a financial donation to help continue their work in areas such as environmental care and access to healthy food.
We’re pleased to contribute towards positive change in the community.”
2024 was an extremely challenging year in beekeeping. The prolonged, cold and wet spring meant a delayed colony build up. In addition, the weather in summer became too unstable and the below average temperatures meant that the already weakened colonies could not catch up properly. South-West Fife was also affected by bee diseases which is unusual for the region. The combination of these factors led to bee colonies in community areas dwindling despite their best efforts.
Lazslo shared with us, “Bees are invaluable for green spaces and education, especially for a small, thriving community with lots of gardens. With this help we can improve the accessibility and extend the teaching capabilities of our community apiary which leads to a more sustainable future.”
He added, “One of EATS Rosyth’s main aims is education – to stop and reverse these changes and with this donation we can extend our capabilities by bringing bees closer to everyone in the community who has an interest to widen their knowledge. Not only will our garden and orchard visitors benefit from this donation, but also our volunteers and the pupils in every primary school in Rosyth who learn about bees, pollination and insects.”
Thank you once again on behalf of EATS Rosyth and the whole community. This donation will assist us in achieving our goals and to build a better, more sustainable future for our locality and beyond. As advised, our beehives did not thrive last year due to the challenging weather which is - unfortunately - part of the bigger picture: our changing climate.