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A little bit about us. We are John & Deb Hayes, a sales manager and group Vet practice manager respectively. Hayes Honey was formed just last year, simply out of a desire to care for bees.
So, there we were, Family Day out at Hole Park, Cranbrook, Kent. It was an unusually sunny day for early spring, and there was a Talk on Bees going on in one of the rooms. It was one of those talks that was designed for Kids but was also full of adults listening just as intently, Specifically Myself, Debs and our sister-in-law, Charlotte.
We decided before getting into the car on the way home that we were going to keep bees. Just the one hive Though, definitely just the one.
Luckily, a good friend of mine Ade kept bees and was more than happy to share his wisdom with us. Turns out that if you ask 100 beekeepers, 100 questions, you will get 100 different answers… that was his first bit of advice and there couldn’t be a truer statement said.
So, that was it… On to eBay to get all the bits we needed (and a lot we didn’t) and off we went…. With a much lighter wallet. I forgot to mention, beekeeping is expensive.
After unsuccessfully trying to catch a passing swarm (free bees) we ended up buying our first colony from a local Beekeeper.
Now, the thing with having only one colony of bees, is that it doesn’t allow for any contingency if things go wrong and boy, can things go wrong. Supersedure, swarming, disease, absconding, starvation, overheating, freezing, drone laying worker bees, aggressive bees, Queen fatality and so on. Then, the hard part kicks in, which is depending on the English weather to play ball (which is definitely hasn’t the last 2 years) So, based on that, we thought it best to get another Hive, just for contingency you understand. The colonies grew, they got full, they swarmed, we lost a queen, we had a drone laying worker (a worker bee that lays unfertilised eggs, producing male bees only) we overfed, causing the hive to be filled with stores and not leave any space for eggs. We had failed queen introductions, we got no honey…… Yup, we had the lot in our first few months. So, we studied and then studied more and have studied pretty much everyday since then…. Watched literally hundreds of videos, attended seminars, spoke to every beekeeper we could (remember the 100 questions, 100 answer thing?) we read books, lots of books. We joined the local clubs; we haven’t stopped since then really. They are so fascinating, that the more you study them, you realise the less you know. Add to that that bees also do things they aren’t supposed to. “hey, the book says they definitely shouldn’t do what they are doing right there”
We thought it strange when experienced beekeepers would say “you need to learn to read your bees”. I mean, c’mon, they are insects after all, but its so, so true. They can be calm, grumpy, angry, inquisitive, busy, relaxed but always amazing.
We started loving these amazing creatures even more and it just gets stronger, the longer we spend time with them. Warm summer evenings sat in the Apiary, glass of beer in hand is truly remarkable………maybe just one more hive then!
So, now we have learned a lot more, we have happier, healthier bees, oh and now we have Honey, lots of delicious, amazing, natural, sweet honey, made lovingly by our hard-working ladies and we can’t wait for you to try some.
24 colonies and rising ,as I write this, since you’re asking!
Thank you for your interest.
John & Debs
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"As a beekeeping hobbyist, I rely on Designation top-quality equipment to maintain my hives. Their beekeeping suit is comfortable and durable, allowing me to work with my bees with confidence.
"I've been buying honey from Designation for years, and it never disappoints! The raw honey is deliciously flavorful and has become a staple in my kitchen. I wouldn't go anywhere else for my honey fix."
"I started using propolis tincture from Hayes Honey to support my immune system, and I've noticed a significant improvement in my overall health. Their products are truly exceptional."
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