For Alan, beekeeping is more than a hobby – it is a passion rooted in nature, science and community. What began as a Christmas beekeeping course from his wife 23 years ago has grown into a commitment to protecting pollinators, producing award-winning honey and sharing knowledge.
Today, Alan cares for hives locally and in France, bringing decades of expertise to every colony he tends. Since 2022, Alan has established eight hives at the Hospice, with plans to expand as demand for his artisan honey grows. The honey produced here raises valuable funds for hospice care and sparks conversations about sustainability, education and the role bees play in our environment. As Alan notes, “You don’t keep bees, we’re just guardians creating the best possible environments for them to thrive.” That ethos ties in beautifully with the Hospice’s values of care, compassion and community.
Personally, Alan is also fascinated by the science of bee products, particularly the potential health benefits of honey and bee venom. Honey has been valued as a food and for healing for millennia, and medical-grade honey is well known for its antibacterial properties. For Alan who often speaks at local schools, beekeeping is also about education and our own interactions with local nature, “If we can get people to make one change in what they do,” he says, “the second change comes far more easily.”
At the Hospice, Alan’s bees do more than produce honey. They create opportunities for connection and conversation, while reflecting the Hospice’s commitment to care for people and the wider community.
Share Article