It may surprise you to know that stocks of British honey could run out by Christmas. Bees have been declining in numbers due to the recent rainy summers (they don't fly around when it's wet), pesticides, parasites, shrinking grassland and too little borage planted by farmers. Bees love borage for nectar and it results in a lovely clear honey.

All of this means there are now few wild bees around to naturally pollinate our fruit and vegetable crops. The activity of bees affects the entire food chain. And without beekeepers there would be no honeybees left at all in the UK.

Luckily help has come from Rowse Honey, which is providing £100,000 of funding for research into breeding disease-free, healthier bees. And there are several things you can do to help too. You can back our beekeepers by buying honey to support the industry; plant bee-friendly shrubs and wildflowers in your garden; register on www.saveourbees.org.uk; help raise research funds yourself or just log on to www.rowsehoney.co.uk and sign the petition to increase funding for beekeeping research.

Water wise

Help the environment and your pocket by making a few clever changes to reduce water wastage

Indoors

• Always turn off taps when cleaning your teeth or shaving
• Take showers instead of baths
• Wait until your washing machine or dishwasher is full up before putting a load on
• Stop dripping taps by replacing washers

Outdoors

• Clean cars or patios with a bucket of water instead of a hose
• Install a water butt (right) to collect rainwater and use it
  on the garden 100-litre space saving waterbutt, £24,
  CAT 200-0740
• Don't over water your lawn, once a week is fine
• Use Miracle Gro Moisture Control Gel, £4, to retain water
  in plants

For more information and tips on being green visit www.tesco.com/greenerliving