Nearly Home Honey & Beekeeping is run by husband and wife team David and Georgina Tomkins. The name was inspired by the well-known landmark Cookworthy Knap (known locally as the Nearly Home Trees), just off the A30 near the Devon Cornwall border, which can be seen from our home apiary in the small hamlet of Kellacott, West Devon.
In addition to producing honey for sale, we offer a range of beekeeping experiences for individuals who would like to find out more about the fascinating world of the honey bee and what's involved in keeping bees, or would just like to explore ways to support their local honey bee population.
With over 30 years of beekeeping experience, David also offers assistance to new or novice beekeepers who would like some guidance with setting up and managing their colonies.
Beekeeping Experiences in the heart of the Devon countryside
We are delighted to be able to announce that our popular beekeeping experiences have been awarded the LUXlife "Beekeeping Experience Provider of the Year for the South West".
If you'd like to get actively involved with beekeeping, or would just like to find out more about the fascinating world of bees and honey, we offer a number of beekeeping experiences, including our very popular Beekeeping Taster Sessions and Private Beekeeping Experience, for you to learn about beekeeping and see what's involved as well as giving you the opportunity to handle the bees yourselves.
We offer a range of Beekeeping Experiences and Taster Sessions, including a Beekeeping For Beginners One Day Course and Tailor-made Beekeeping Sessions for individuals and couples. If you already have your own bees, we offer a more in-depth look at beekeeping in our 2024 Beekeeping & Colony Management Course, for you to further develop your knowledge and understanding of apiary management and help address any specific problems you may be having.
David also offers a Beekeeping Mentoring and Advice Service for new and novice beekeepers. For more information click on the relevant option and links below.
BEEKEEPING TASTER SESSIONS
Our 2024 Beekeeping Taster Session dates have now been confirmed, so book your place on one of our Beekeeping Taster Sessions, which are taking place during May, June, July and early August on Sunday mornings, from 10am till 12 noon. Click here for further details or here to book your place.
Here's some of the feedback we've received:
"Amazing course if you are looking to start you bee keeping journey. It didn't feel overwhelming with information but at the same time I felt everything was covered and it was amazing to get some real hands on experience with the bees. David & Georgina are fantastic hosts and their honey is amazing!"
"Such a fantastic experience, David and Georgina were brilliant hosts, very welcoming. On arrival we were provided with tea, coffee and delicious honey cake. The information presented was great and the trip up to the beehives was amazing. Don't leave without purchasing some tasty honey, you won't be disappointed!"
Private Beekeeping Taster Sessions
Our private Beekeeping Taster Sessions are available for couples.
This 2 hour session will provide an opportunity for participants to learn about the fascinating world of the honey bee, with an opportunity to see inside some of our hives and of course taste some of our honeys.
They can be purchased in advance and will be arranged at a mutually convenient time until mid September.
Beekeeping & Colony
Management Course
This course is designed for existing beekeepers who would like to expand their knowledge of beekeeping. Among other topics this course will cover colony expansion and swarm control.
This 3 hour session will include an inspection of hives at our home apiary viewing some of these scenarios, with opportunities to handle frames of bees.
Tailor-made Beekeeping Sessions
These sessions are designed for existing beekeepers who would like advice on how to better manage their colonies. They will have the opportunity to request what subjects they'd like to cover, with emphasis on any problems they are experiencing. They will include an inspection of hives at our home apiary and can be arranged for a mutually convenient time.
Beekeeping for Beginners Course
This new course is designed for new beekeepers who would like to purchase a colony of bees. Among other topics this course will focus on setting up with your first colony of bees and how to manage them in your first season of beekeeping. The session will include an inspection of hives, giving ample opportunity to gain experience and confidence handling frames of bees.
Bees and Honey
Our bees are kept in our Higher Kellacott apiary and other locations in West Devon and Dartmoor. They are a strain of Honey Bee (Apis Millifera) known as the Buckfast Bee, which was developed by Brother Adam, a Benedictine Monk at the Buckfast Abbey in Devon who was a Beekeeper for over 70 years. The Buckfast Bee is extremely gentle and highly productive.
We produce our honey in small batches, extracting it as soon as it's ripe and able to be removed from the hive. This ensures a delicate fragrance, which is different throughout the summer months, depending on the nectar the bees have foraged. It is completely raw unprocessed honey, ensuring that all the goodness and fine nutrients are retained from the hive to the jar.
Six Frame Honey Bee Starter Nucs for Sale
We supply honey bee starter nucs from May onwards for anyone who wants to start beekeeping or increase existing colonies.
- These consist of 5 or 6 frames of bees
- Standard DN4 National Frames
- Laying marked Buckfast Queen
- Brood in all stages (eggs, larvae, sealed brood)
- Two frames of stores
- Available from May onwards - preorder now
- Price on application.
- Collection only.
Call David on 07795 011534 for further details or to place an order.
Higher Kellacott Holiday Cottages
Luxury accommodation for two