Discover the buzz of the San Miguel Rich List

From the bright lights of London to the heights of the Himalayas, you'll find people who are truly life rich, pursuing a different kind of wealth. With its long history of exploration, San Miguel has been championing these people - and now it wants you to find your rich

Urban beekeepers Chris Barnes and Paul Webb check on one of their hives (Jody Daunton)

There’s a noticeable trend among members of the San Miguel Rich list: a willingness to put down the laptop or mobile phone, and open their eyes to the wonders of the great outdoors. Whether it’s a Himalayan hideaway or a Brixton beehive, the world beyond your home or office door is the best place to chase truly rich experiences. Do you, or someone you know, have that adventurous spirit? Maybe you, or they, could join the 2018 San Miguel Rich List…

Chris Barnes and Paul Webb, urban beekeepers

Chris Barnes and Paul Webb are graphic designers who swapped their laptops for beehives. They’ve established a thriving network of apiaries around London – and have harvested some of the UK’s best honey along the way. After initially renting out hives, they now have 50 of their own, producing 50 tons a year of their renowned Black Bee Honey. “It’s far more rewarding than sitting in front of a computer,” says Chris. “You’re outside, you appreciate the seasons, and you meet like-minded people doing a job in tandem with nature.” It’s a zen way to spend the day, adds Paul. “You’ve got to go into a hive calm,” he says. “If you’re jittery, the bees get stingy. I like that slow pace. It means your day to day rarely feels like work.”

Travel author Philomene Verlaan (Duncan Elliot)

Philomene Verlaan, travel author

Once a lawyer, Philomene Verlaan took up trekking because of her deep love of the natural world; she became an author after her Tibetan Buddhist guide told her that his community would love to record their extraordinary Himalayan memories. What followed was a four-year odyssey of tale-gathering, in which Philomene put together her book, Tales Of The Snow Leopard. “We’ve helped preserve stories from an oral tradition that’s never been written down before,” she says. “They understand being compassionate, having a sense of humour, the pleasure of exchanging stories face to face – rather than through a screen – and the meaning of contentment. It’s been a huge amount of fun working with them.”

Plant messiah Carlos Magdalena at work (Jody Daunton)

Carlos Magdalena, plant messiah

As nicknames go, “The Plant Messiah” is a winner. “It started in a Spanish newspaper,” laughs Carlos Magdalena, tropical senior horticulturist at Kew Gardens, famous for his unique approach to preserving the earth’s flora. “They’d seen I was saving species and wrote an article entitled ‘El Mesias de las plantas’.” A lifelong obsession with horticulture got him here. “What’s rewarding is to be able to make a difference to a species, to avoid extinction,” he says. “I have an obsession with keeping things alive. Once you identify a plant’s underlying problem, you’re likely to find the solution. And cultivating a new type of plant is always special. You spend more time in life working than anything else, so you need to find happiness in that time.”

The search has started for The San Miguel Rich List 2018. San Miguel is looking for a new group of inspirational people who lead rich, rewarding lives. If you, or someone you know, shares a thirst for discovery, creativity or new experiences, nominate them, or yourself, here

Terms & Conditions: UK residents, 18+ to nominate, 25+ to feature. 1-4 Rich List places available. Promotion closes 23:59 10 June 2018. To see full T&Cs visit Standard.co.uk/RL2018

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