Brightwell Bees at the Earth Trust

The Earth Trust Farm is home to a number of honeybee hives managed by Viv and Steve Moll who live in the neighbouring village of Brightwell cum Sotwell. The Moll’s also have hives located at other sites in the surrounding South Oxfordshire and West Berkshire villages.

Honeybees forage within a large 3-4 km radius of the hive, and can be found on a wide variety of plant species as the seasons change.  In spring time, honeybees can be seen on wild plum, blackthorn, wild cherry, hawthorn and horse chestnut. In early summer, honeybees move to lime trees, clover and wild meadow flowers.

As summer progresses, blackberry bushes become a very important food source and honeybees can be observed alongside many of the footpaths at this time. In autumn, ivy nectar tops up the 20 kg of honey stores which the bee colony requires for sustenance through the long winter months.

Hive Products