Those who presently run the bee department, agree that their main focus is to promote gentle and intelligent beekeeping “Because by trying to understand our bees, and by paying attention to their natural rhythms and behaviours, we definitely get more from them. Working with honeybees is a great way to engage with nature. One of the bonuses of looking through a hive is the way it can distract you from a stressful and busy life. It can be a very mindful experience which lots of visitors find calming and are surprised at how good they feel after witnessing colony life so intimately. Watching a baby bee being born is amazing, and we still get excited when we see it happening even after all these years as beekeepers.”

As well as producing honey and beeswax, honeybees also fulfil a crucial role in the natural world by pollinating flowering plants and so help to facilitate the production of seeds, nuts, fruit, and vegetables. This makes them an important part of the food chain as well as keeping plants healthy by promoting diversity and vigour.