Longleat return to sweet traditions

Thursday, 22 August 2024 05:55

When Longleat House first opened 75 years ago, honey produced on the estate was sold on the gate and now the tradition has returned with an expansion in the number of hives.

The walled garden on the Wiltshire estate, which once ensured produce for the house, estate workers and the neighbouring village of Horningsham, is home to the new hives and nearly half a million bees.

The last batch of the Longleat Honey for 2024 is being harvested this week and will be on sale on site in the next couple of weeks.

In total there are now 10 hives across the estate, each containing 70,000 Buckfast bees, and the first harvest has just been completed with the Longleat Honey label launching in Lady Bath’s Shop.

“It’s really exciting to see,” said James Dare, Head of Facilities, “the British Beekeepers’ Association highlights how honey has been enjoyed all over the world for centuries, it was found in the Egyptian tombs, for example, and we know it was produced in large quantities on the estate.

“Over time the number of hives reduced but now we have sufficient hives to be able to call it Longleat Honey again. We have had local honey for some time; this has been produced within our local ecosystem, but Longleat Honey is produced from the hives within the property boundary.”

Beekeeper Den Picton said: “Each hive will produce 35lb of honey which will mean we are able to triple the jars we have available. It is pure honey without any additives and will be flavoured from the local flowers.

“We are also ensuring a safe place for bees to thrive; bees are critical to our ecosystem and many species are already classed as endangered due to reducing habitat.

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