Leigh Goodsell from Leigh’s Bees Honey
Leigh’s bee fact: The average bee will make around a twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.
Bee keeping began as a hobby for Leigh when he was a child, although he had an inauspicious start. After two years saving enough pocket money to buy his first hive, Leigh says: “they were the most evil bees in history. I’m not quite sure how anyone could have sold them to an 11-year-old. They stung everyone within a 100 meter radius, but I learnt a lot from them and was hooked.”
After leaving school Leigh spent the best part of 20 years as a professional photographer, but the lure of the bees proved too much. “I missed the country lifestyle,” he explained. “I now feel incredibly lucky to spend my days out and about, working with the bees. My life revolves with the seasons and I continue to be awestruck by these remarkable creatures.
“It’s an exhausting occupation at times, but the most satisfying moments are often associated with the intoxicating aroma that envelops me when taking the top off a happy and productive hive. The hum of 80,000 contented bees going about their business is very relaxing.”
Leigh's Bees honey started appearing in Norfolk delicatessens and farm shops around eight years ago, and as outlets increased, so did production. Leigh then met Jarrold Deli Buyer Judith… “I met Judith earlier this year when she started stocking Leigh's Bees honey in the Deli,” said Leigh. “The Jarrold own label honey is made exclusively for Jarrold from bees who have foraged on Sea Lavender at Burnham Deepdale – it’s this that gives the honey its sweet but savoury taste.”
The beehives at Burnham Deepdale are only used for Jarrold honey with the sea lavender honey harvest taking place in August. “Harvests are very weather dependant,” explains Leigh. “The best crops come when we have a mixture of warmth and moisture.” On average Leigh’s Bees make 50 kilos of surplus honey per hive, with a particularly good harvest yielding up to 100 kilos.
To produce the Jarrold honey, the combs are taken to Leigh’s Bees honey house at Fincham. Here the honey is gently extracted before being sieved to remove any wax or hive debris. The honey is then bottled and labelled. Leigh said: “The whole honey making process is carried out by hand to ensure that every jar is the best it can be.”