Dorset's honey is shaped by a patchwork of habitats. On the heaths, bell heather flowers in July and ling in August. Robert Field of Field Honey Farms on the Isle of Purbeck blends his bell heather honey with oilseed rape honey to make a smooth set 'Dorset Honey', and he also sells the dark, jelly-like ling heather honey. Mark Rogers of Filberts of Dorset says spring blossom from thorn and willow in the hedgerows gives an earthy, mellow honey, while summer blackberry and clover make a rich, smooth one. Filberts labels each jar with the apiary it came from. In the Blackmore Vale, Redhills Farm Honey near Shaftesbury makes its honey mainly from clover-covered pasture, and Worthy Hill Honey at Buckhorn Weston names hedgerows, blackberry and clover.
Honey is judged at the Melplash Show each August and at the Dorset County Show, and East Dorset Beekeepers hold an autumn honey show in Wimborne with free tasting.
Most producers sell direct. Hurnbridge Honey sells at the farm at Hurn, near Christchurch, from May to September and through local shops the rest of the year. Jurassic Bees offers collection in Owermoigne or free local delivery, and Worthy Hill sells from the door by arrangement.
Use the listing details to choose how to buy, then contact the producer before travelling.
The directory does not track live stock or harvest dates. Availability, collection, delivery, prices and seasonal varieties can change, so ask the producer to confirm what is currently available.
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