We are very pleased that in 2024 we added a new apiary to our portfolio. Godstone Vineyards produces award-winning wines from their beautiful terrace close to Caterham. Brothers Jonathan & Robert work on a small scale, and say their wines are “determined by the vagaries of the English climate” which is exactly the same for our honey.
A trial run during the summer of 2024 has shown this could be a great new site for our bees, the bees worked hard and were quick to discover the new meadow area. There was a small crop of honey, which is incredibly light and delicate in flavour, and which has just won an award at the Croydon Honey Show.
The vines themselves are wind pollinated and so have no need of the attention of the bees, but there is still plenty of forage for them. The vineyards are adjacent to the Pilgrim’s way where there is an abundance of wild forage, and at the top of the terrace is the newly sown meadow. Here, one of the plants that did especially well in 2024 was phacelia, a relative of borage, for which the bees go crazy. Bees are generally very keen on blue flowers.
Do follow Jonathan’s blog for all the latest from the vineyards, or go and have a look around – they will be open for visitors once a month in 2025.
