What makes West Berkshire Honey so special?
Many of our customers agree that our honey is some of the best that can be purchased this is partly due to the care we take processing it and also down to West Berkshire having some of the best forage in the country.
West Berkshire honey is renowned for its exceptional quality, distinctive flavour profiles, and the rich biodiversity that makes it truly unique. With vast areas of heathland, ancient woodlands, and wildflower meadows, locations such as Greenham Common, Crookham Common, and Bucklebury Common provide the perfect environment for honeybees to thrive. The local apiaries in Thatcham, Newbury, Frilsham, Ashmore Green, Brimpton, and Midgham contribute to the production of some of the finest honey in the UK.
Greenham Common and Crookham Common are celebrated for their open heathlands, gorse, and bell heather, which provide a rich nectar source for honeybees. Greenham Common is thought to be one of the largest drone congregation areas in the country. Bees in the area also benefit from the proximity to meadows and hedgerows filled with blackberries, hawthorn, and chestnut trees, adding complexity to the local honey.
We are very lucky to be able to keep bees in the area and to be able to share the wonderful honey with our customers.
OUR STORY
West Berkshire's Local Beefarm
Ben, our Head Beekeeper, started beekeeping in 2014. After getting his first hive he was hooked and has increased his number of hives each year. Now Ben's Berkshire Bees is running over 100 hives and expanding each year.
Ben's children are also lovers of bees and help out with checking the bees!
Ben's Berkshire Bees now has Apiaries across West Berkshire, located in Brimpton, Ashmore Green, Frilsham, Crookham Common, Frilsham, Midgham Theale and Welford.
We are always interested in new places to keep bees. If you are a land owner please get in touch!
Raw and Pure - Minimally Processed Honey
Once the honey is naturally ripened by the bees, we carefully extract it through a gentle and efficient process. First, we remove the wax capping that seals the honeycomb cells. Then, the honey is released by spinning the frames in a centrifuge, which allows it to flow out smoothly. Finally, we filter the honey through a fine mesh to remove any remaining impurities, ensuring a pure and high-quality product ready for you to enjoy.
The trendy word at the moment used for honey is raw. This means that it hasn't been excessively filtered or heated. All of our honey meets this criteria. We don't add anything to the honey whatsoever.
Talks about Bees
Ben has delivered a variety of engaging talks on bees to local groups, including presentations at Women's Institutes, Eco Festivals, residential homes, Young Farmers' clubs, preschools, and Scout groups.
If your organization in the West Berkshire area is interested in hosting a talk, please don't hesitate to contact us!