Local Honey Lopcombe

John Read is a small-scale, environmentally friendly and ethical beekeeper based in Lopcombe, Hampshire. He keeps his bees at the bottom of his garden in rural Hampshire, producing raw, unprocessed honey that is sold through the Hive & Keeper platform. John has a rich background in farming and rural life — until recently he combined beekeeping with shepherding, raising lambs over winter before turning his attention to beekeeping in the spring. He has since cut back on other activities to focus solely on his bees. John works alongside a fellow beekeeper who is in his 90s, meaning John — despite his own years of experience — is affectionately known as 'the boy'. He has a notable engineering background and helped design farm machinery that remains in use today, reflecting a practical and inventive approach to rural life. John is described as being full of stories about beekeeping and farming, making him a characterful and knowledgeable producer. His honey is raw and sourced from hives kept in the Hampshire countryside, reflecting a traditional and thoughtful approach to beekeeping.