Who's behind Local Honey UK?
A beekeeper, not a marketing company. Local Honey UK was set up for one reason: to connect people with genuine local honey, and with the beekeepers who produce it.
I'm Richard Senior
I'm a bee farmer based near Barnsley in South Yorkshire, where I run Staincross Apiaries. I've kept bees since 2006, and like most beekeepers I started with a couple of hives and never really stopped.
Over those years I've watched good local honey sit on the same supermarket shelf as cheap imported blends, and seen customers struggle to tell the difference. Meanwhile the beekeepers doing it properly were often hard to find unless you already knew where to look.
Local Honey UK is my attempt to fix that. Somewhere the public can find real honey from real beekeepers, and know what they're buying.
Where I'm coming from
Beekeeping has taken me well beyond my own apiary. These are the roles that shape how I think about honey and the people who produce it.
Bee farmer
Producing raw local honey at Staincross Apiaries in Barnsley, and welcoming visitors who want to see inside a hive.
Vice Chair, Yorkshire Beekeepers
Helping to support beekeepers and branches right across Yorkshire through the county association.
Chair, Barnsley Beekeepers
Leading our local association, where new beekeepers learn the craft and experienced ones share what they know.
Former Secretary, BIBBA
Time with the Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders' Association, which encourages beekeepers to raise locally adapted bees.
Friend of the B4 Project
Supporting work to conserve the native British black honey bee.
SENDCo and teacher
My day job is in schools, which has taught me a lot about explaining things clearly and making sure nobody gets left out.
Back in 2007
A community project, not a business
Local Honey UK isn't here to sell you honey. It's here to point you towards the people who make it. Listing is free, and every beekeeper who joins makes the same promise about where their honey comes from and how it's produced.
"If you've ever bought a jar from the beekeeper down the road, you'll know it tastes of somewhere. That's what I want more people to find."
Richard Senior, Local Honey UKQuestions, ideas, or want to help?
Whether you're a beekeeper thinking about listing, a customer with a question, or a local association that wants to get involved, I'd be glad to hear from you.