Did you know that at Highbury Orchard, we are Bee Landlords? We have five stands of bee-hives quietly buzzing away on the far eastern side to our site. The “rent” is paid in jars of honey which we sell for the benefit of our projects, but the bees also help to pollenate our plants. Last summer, they took nectar mostly from our green manure of Buckwheat, and also from the Himalayan Balsam which grows where it will and which the bees love. So that’s what this year’s honey tastes of!
How Highbury Honey Helps!
Each jar is produced by bees foraging flowers in the park and local gardens to find pollen to make the honey. In return the bees pollinate the flowers to produce more beautiful fruits flowers and plants for the area. When we eat the honey, there is lots of anecdotal evidence to say that this may help to reduce our summer allergies - the more local the honey the better! We have more to sell occasionally at Kings Heath Farmers Market, so please look out for us there.
For more information see this page
There is lots more information about the possible uses and conditions that may be improved with honey on: this website
We are planning to help the honey bees and wild bees such as Bumblebees even more.
We hope to sow and plant a “necklace” of small wildflower meadows through the park, creating a foraging corridor for the bees. In addition, a few bumblehotels hanging from the trees will provide respite and shelter along their journey through the park. This will contribute to a longer bee-foraging corridor in south Birmingham which is being developed near and along the River Rea. All this effort will ensure the best prospects for healthy bee colonies and other pollenators in the future - and in turn, ensure we can grow our own food in years to come.
Look out for more information on our Wildflower Necklace project in the coming months. Many volunteers will be needed!
Hi I’m after some bee honey from local bees to see if it will help me with my hay fever allergies.
Pls contact and let me know thank you
We do sell Highbury honey from beehives at the Orchard. We have been selling it at Kings Heath farmers market on the first Saturday of every month. Many people buy it because it is local and to treat allergies in the family.
Our supplies have just run out though, so there is none available until next harvest from the bees. This will be in September/October I believe. We’ll keep you posted here!
Meanwhile, we will have beeswax products on sale instead.
I hope that helps.
I am looking to buy some Highbury honey for my family, we suffer from allergies. Where or how can I buy it?
Hi Saleha, that’s great - we just have a big batch come in from the Beekeeper.
Yoiu can buy it from Armadillo on Poplar Road, Kings Heath. Ot from All Saints Cafe, at All Saints Church Kings Heath.
Or from our doorstep. Please text me on 07752 435714 if you want to buy from our doorstep, to arrange a specific day and time.
I hope that helps!
Liz