Local Honey Wickhamford

Great Taste award-winning honey from Merry May Honey, a family beekeeping business at Wickhamford, near Broadway, on the South Worcestershire and North Cotswold border.

Their apiaries are spread across rural parts of the Cotswolds, Worcestershire and Warwickshire, and the bees pollinate crops for local farmers: plum orchards in the Vale of Evesham, oilseed rape and, at the Cotswold Farm Park, sainfoin. There are three honeys. Orchard honey from the plum orchards is light and floral. Soft-set honey from the oilseed rape is stirred until smooth and creamy. Cotswold honey, from apiaries around Stow-on-the-Wold, Mickleton and Ashton-under-Hill, is darker and thicker with notes of caramel.

They also make beeswax lip balm, beeswax and honey soap and rolled beeswax candles. In summer they run three-hour beekeeping experiences at their home apiary near Broadway, with a hive inspection, honey tasting, candle-making and afternoon tea. They also give talks to local groups and charities.

You can buy from them at the regular farmers' markets in Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water and Willersey, and at Christmas markets, fetes, open gardens and food festivals around the area. You can also order online for delivery by post. Shops interested in stocking their products are welcome to get in touch.