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A little about us
The Hives
Why Choose Our Honey
Honey source matters
FAQ
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Honey - Sold Out! Next Harvest Late Summer 2026
We’re currently sold out – a huge thank you to everyone who’s popped their name on the waiting list. We’re so grateful for your patience and support.
This spring the bees decided to keep their honey for themselves, so there’s no spring harvest this year. That’s just nature doing its thing, and it means our colonies are strong, well-fed and thriving – exactly how we like them! Our next harvest should be ready towards the end of summer 2026, weather permitting. Pop your name on the list and we’ll give you a shout the moment the new batch is jarred up.
A little about us
We’re a family-run beekeeping venture based in Guildford, and we’re delighted to share that our cherished hives are now beautifully positioned close to RHS Wisley. This exceptional location places our bees in the heart of Surrey’s most horticultural paradise, where they can benefit from the garden’s remarkable biodiversity and the surrounding Surrey countryside.
RHS Garden Wisley spans an impressive 240 acres and houses over 25,000 different plant species and cultivars - making it one of the largest plant collections anywhere in the world. Our bees now have access to this incredible botanical treasure trove, which includes diverse wildflower meadows, formal gardens, orchards, and native Surrey flora.
The Hives
We currently have the privilage of now looking after three fantastic hives.
Sunflower Hive
Daisy Hive
Lavender Hive
Why Choose Our Honey
We think there’s a lot to love about our honey…
Pure & Unpasteurised
Our honey is 100% raw and unpasteurised, preserving all the natural enzymes, antioxidants, and nutrients. The natural crystallisation you might notice is a sign of quality and purity.
Local & Traceable
Every jar comes directly from our hives near RHS Wisley in the Surrey countryside with minimal food miles. You can trace our honey from hive to jar.
Distinctive Flavour Profile
Our honey captures the unique flavours of the Surrey countryside, with notes from wildflowers and the apple orchard adjacent to our hives. Each batch reflects the seasons through its distinctive character.
Small-Batch Quality
As a family with just a few hives, we can give exceptional attention to each jar. Our small-scale production means every batch receives care that mass-produced honey cannot match.
Supports Local Pollinators
By choosing our honey, you’re supporting our small family beekeeping venture and helping protect vital pollinators in our local ecosystem.
May Help with Seasonal Allergies
Many people find local honey helps alleviate seasonal allergies and hayfever symptoms due to the small amounts of local pollen present.
Honey source matters
Recent DNA tests (November 2024) revealed that over 90% of honey on UK supermarket shelves contains cheap syrup additives. However, all samples from local British beekeepers passed authenticity tests. (The Independent)
In 2023, the European Commission found that 46% of honey sampled was suspected fraudulent. The fake version is hard to detect and beekeepers warn it is forcing down prices, potentially driving them out of business. (BBC Radio 4 - The Honey Trap)
An Observer investigation analysed over 500 lab tests on UK supermarket honey since 2018, finding that some of the country’s bestselling honeys repeatedly failed authenticity checks. Bioengineered sugar syrup from China, sold for as little as 75p per kilogram, is blended into honey and can pass most standard tests undetected. (The Observer)
By choosing The Little Bee Garden, you’re supporting authentic, sustainable beekeeping practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is completely natural and actually a sign of quality. Raw honey contains natural sugars that crystallise over time — it means your honey hasn't been ultra-processed. To help return it to a more liquid state, simply place the jar in warm water (not boiling) for 10–15 minutes and give it a gentle stir. Avoid microwaving as this will destroy the beneficial enzymes.
Our honey is safe for children aged 1 and over. However, raw honey of any kind should never be given to infants under 12 months due to the rare risk of infant botulism. This applies to all honey, not just ours.
Most supermarket honey is heated to high temperatures (pasteurised) to keep it liquid on the shelf and extend its shelf life. This process destroys many of the natural enzymes, antioxidants, and beneficial compounds. Our honey is extracted, lightly filtered to remove wax, and jarred — nothing else. You're getting honey exactly as the bees made it.
Keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight — a kitchen cupboard is perfect. There's no need to refrigerate honey. Properly stored, honey has an almost indefinite shelf life. If it crystallises, just pop the jar in warm water to soften it up.
We're a small operation and our honey is seasonal. The bees kept their spring honey for themselves this year, so our next harvest is expected towards the end of summer 2026, weather permitting. Pop your name on the waiting list and we'll let you know as soon as it's jarred up.
Our hives are located on private land near RHS Wisley, so we're unable to offer public visits. However, we love chatting about bees — feel free to get in touch via the contact section and we're happy to answer any beekeeping questions.
Much of the honey on UK supermarket shelves has been blended from multiple countries, ultra-filtered, and pasteurised — and as recent investigations have shown, a significant proportion may contain cheap sugar syrup additives. Our honey comes from our own hives near RHS Wisley, is completely traceable from hive to jar, and is never heated or blended.
Many of our customers swear by it, and the theory makes sense — local honey contains trace amounts of pollen from the plants in your area, which may help your body build a natural tolerance. While scientific studies are still limited, there's plenty of anecdotal evidence. At the very least, it's a delicious way to find out.
We don't offer delivery — all our honey is sold directly from our door. Just get in touch to arrange a collection time that works for you.
We're afraid we don't collect swarms ourselves. But if you've spotted what you think is a swarm of honey bees that has settled nearby, we'd recommend getting in touch with [Surrey Bees](https://www.surreybees.co.uk/) — they have a lovely network of local beekeepers who may be able to come and help. It's always worth checking they're honey bees first, as bumblebees and other friendly visitors are best left to go about their business.
Oh, the joys of sharing your home with bees! Sadly this isn't something we're able to help with — moving an established nest is a real specialist job, and it's not something we do. We'd recommend searching for a reputable bee removal specialist who handles nest relocations. We don't have anyone in particular we can point you to, so we wouldn't want to recommend a name we can't vouch for — but a bit of searching for someone trusted in your area should do the trick. Wishing you and your buzzy housemates the best of luck!
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Thank you for supporting our small, sustainable beekeeping business!