Gilboys – giving back with a buzz 🐝

Gilboys launch beeswax polish to raise funds for Rowcroft Hospice

Rowcroft Hospice has teamed up with Gilboys, a South Devon producer of premium beeswax polishes and wood care products, to transform surplus wax from Rowcroft’s own beehives into beeswax polish that supports its care. For every jar of polish sold in the new Rowcroft Collection, Gilboys will make a donation to support the hospice’s specialist end-of-life care across South Devon.

Rowcroft’s 25 hives and busy honeybees

Rowcroft’s apiary – with its 25 hives and busy colonies of honeybees – produces honey that is sold in Rowcroft’s shops to raise vital income for the hospice. Keen to ensure nothing goes to waste, Rowcroft found a perfect partner in Gilboys, a local Dartington based company known for its high-quality, natural products and sustainable practices.

Gilboys’ inspiration

The idea for the ‘Rowcroft Collection’ grew from a personal connection between Gilboys’ Managing Director, Simon Gilboy, and the hospice. After taking part as a dancer in ‘Strictly Rowcroft’ this May, he witnessed first-hand the incredible community effort behind the hospice:

“While preparing for the show, I was introduced by a mutual friend to Helen Thomas, Rowcroft’s head volunteer beekeeper and I learned that the hospice’s hives produced a surplus of beeswax,” Simon explained. “As working with beeswax is what we do every day, it immediately felt like something we could help with. By putting the surplus to use, we could create something useful while supporting Rowcroft.

“From there, the idea shaped itself into a virtuous circle: the bees produce the wax, Gilboys turn it into polish, and every jar sold helps fund Rowcroft’s care. It’s a natural continuation of our ethos – avoiding waste and transforming simple, natural materials into products that preserve and protect the things people cherish.”

Rowcroft’s Corporate Fundraiser, Lisa Whittaker, said:

“We are so grateful to Gilboys for their generosity in bringing this project to life. It’s a wonderful example of how our community can come together in imaginative ways to support local hospice care. Every jar of wax polish sold helps us to make every day the best it can be for our patients and their loved ones.”

Find out more

The ‘Rowcroft Collection’ is available now from Gilboys, with every purchase helping to fund Rowcroft’s specialist care. Find out more by visiting gilboys.co.uk/rowcroft

And if you’d like to find out more about volunteering with Rowcroft – whether in beekeeping or in one of the many other rewarding roles – please take a look at our latest Volunteering Vacancies

More news from Rowcroft:

• • Score big for your local community at The Big Tackle 2026
  • Rowcroft launches locally themed Christmas cards to raise funds for hospice care
  • Open Gardens in full bloom for Rowcroft, raising an incredible £18k!