Taking care of honeybees in the beautiful Leicestershire countryside.
Hello, I’m Jay also known as the Hairy Beekeeper, I’ve been a beekeeper since 2011 and have hives in several locations around the north of Leicestershire. I also look after bees for corporate businesses, to assist them in gaining their Environmental credentials.
My desire to take up beekeeping started as skill to learn in my quest to become more self sufficient, if I was producing honey not only would I not need to buy sugar but I could also then trade it for other items. While the latter aspect hasn’t been something I’ve pursued, I still get to sell my honey and other hive products that the bees provide for us.
You will find some of the products that I make, with the bees help of course, over on Bee Soap – this is my wife’s business which also has other products made using the beeswax and honey that I collect. Team work!
I am often asked how the name “The Hairy Beekeeper” came about – with the odd joke about not having as much hair on my head as people thought! Actually it dates back to 2011 when I was approached to be on the TV show the Hairy Bikers, they were looking for a representative from the beekeeping community who did not meet the stereotype of an elderly chap. I was featured on the episode named Food and Religion as my honey was used to make mead for the local Druid group, unfortunately I never got to meet the Bikers themselves but still had a lot of fun filming.
As well as selling my honey and beeswax products at various Leicestershire markets and events, I can offer beekeeping services, such as hive moving, swarm collection (location and access dependent) or holiday cover.
I give talks and have been well received at WI’s and Cub Scouts alike, getting the kids to realise just how honey is made is priceless!
Something I am hoping to set up is hive sponsorship – so keep an eye out here if you might be interesting in getting your company name on a beehive for your environmental credentials and to get regular updates through the year on their progress – and providing it has been a good year there will be honey too.
