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 and companies 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.
If you’d like to get involved with beekeeping but don’t have the time, space or confidence to have your own hive, our Sponsor a Beehive or Beehive in your Garden options will enable you to share in the experience of keeping bees whilst being totally hands-free.
With nearly 30 years of beekeeping experience, David also offers assistance to new or novice beekeepers who would like some guidance with managing their colonies.
Visit our online store to see our full range of honeys, Beekeeping Experiences and range of Pure Beeswax Candles. Our Dartmoor Heather Comb Honey is now available to purchase.
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.
If you already have your own bees, we offer Tailor-made Beekeeping Sessions for you to further develop your knowledge and understanding of apiary management and help address any 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 2023 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, August and early September 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. I 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. Slightly larger group sizes are also available on request.
This 2 hour taster 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.
The sessions can be purchased in advance and will be arranged at a mutually convenient time until mid September.
Tailor-made Beekeeping Sessions
This option is 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 particular emphasis on any problems their might be experiencing. The day will include an inspection of hives at our home apiary.
These days will be arranged at a mutually convenient time until the end of September.
Beekeeping Advice & Mentoring
David is happy to assist new and existing beekeepers with advice on a range of matters, including where best to located your hives, ensuring your bees have a good source of nectar and pollen, colony management and treatments, etc.
This can be done by telephone, Zoom or email, starting from £15 for half an hour.
Hands-free Beekeeping
Sponsor a Beehive
If you’d like to get involved but don’t have the time, space or finance to have your own hive, this opportunity may be the perfect way to experience beekeeping. Or it may be the best way to build up your knowledge and confidence before setting up on your own. All hives are based at our Higher Kellacott apiary in West Devon.
Corporate Apiary Management
Corporate Sponsorship
Our Corporate Sponsorship Programme has been developed in order to work in partnership with local companies who would like to support their local bee population and at the same time have an opportunity to share in the experience of beekeeping and the fascinating world of the honey bee.
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.
