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.
Beehive House Experience - New for summer 2026
We are delighted to announce our Beehive House as an exciting addition to our
Beekeeping Experiences for summer 2026
Individuals and couples will be able to book an hour long experience in this wooden cabin, which as been purpose designed and built in order for people to enjoy the benefits of spending time in this unique environment; breathing in the air from the beehives, absorbing the aromas from the hive and taking in the gentle hum of the bees as they work within the hive. Time spent in this way can support overall health and wellness, as well as soothing the soul and boosting the immune and cardiovascular systems.
Our Beehive House is designed to harness these benefits in a safe, enclosed environment where bees live in hives underneath the house beds. A secure mesh system keeps the bees separate and ensures that only the healing elements infuse the space, creating a truly immersive experience.
For further details and information on how to book your session,
Email us.
Beekeeping Experiences in the heart of the Devon countryside
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.
For new beekeepers, we have Beekeeping For Beginners One Day Courses, plus 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 2026 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 EXPERIENCES
We have a number of 2026 Beekeeping Taster Sessions available, so book your place on one of our Beekeeping Taster Sessions, which are taking place during May, June, July and early August on Saturday and Sunday mornings, from 10am till 12 noon. Click here for further details or here to book your place. We are also trialling some midweek early evening dates, which start at 5pm.
We also offer Private Beekeeping Taster Sessions, which 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.
Bees and Honey
Our bees are kept in our Higher Kellacott apiary and other locations in West Devon. 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.
National Beehives for Sale
We have a limited supply of assembled British Cedar National Beehives for sale this summer, which consist of the following:
- Floor - open mesh
- Brood box
- Queen excluder
- Two supers - each hold 10 frames on castillated spacers
- Crown board - with porter bee escapes
- Lid - 4 inch galvanised
Total Cost £385
Collection only
To enquire or place an order, call David on 07795 011534.
Six Frame Honey Bee Starter Nucs for Sale
We have now sold out of any nucs for 2026.
- 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.
