Local Honey Cardiff

Unpasteurised Welsh honey from Maes Gwyn Hives, a family-run beekeeping business based in Miskin, near Pontyclun, with around 40 hives in apiaries at Groesfaen, Blackmill, the Swansea Valley and Treharris. It began with a single hive in 2017, when the founder – after years working in computer software – was mentored by a beekeeper living a few doors away, and has added colonies year by year since.

The bees forage farmland, woodland and wildflowers, and honey is usually taken in two main harvests a year, so colour and flavour vary from apiary to apiary and season to season. It comes runny or semi-set in jars from 227g up, and in 5, 10 and 20 litre buckets for bulk buyers. Alongside their own honey they sell jars from two other South Wales beekeepers, from Tonyrefail and from St Mellons in Cardiff.

They also make beeswax candles (with some soya ones) and sell honey gift boxes, wildflower seeds, bug hotels and bee-themed cards. A hive sponsorship scheme includes jars of honey each December, and they offer free swarm collection across the Llantrisant, Bridgend, Rhondda and Pontypridd areas, plus paid wasp nest removal.

You can order online for UK delivery or collection from Miskin by arrangement, or find them at monthly markets at Pyle Garden Centre and in Caerphilly.