Staincross, Barnsley · South Yorkshire

Yorkshire honey and beekeeping experiences from Staincross, Barnsley

We're a family beekeeping business on a 30-acre smallholding just outside Barnsley, looking out over the hills towards Penistone. We keep around 50 hives, jar our own Yorkshire honey, and open up the apiary so you can see exactly how it's made.

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Beehive at Staincross Apiaries with the sun setting behind it

2006keeping bees since

~50hives in and around Barnsley

4.9★Google reviews

Unheatedhoney, gently strained

From our hives to your table

Our Yorkshire honey

Every jar comes from our own bees. We don't heat it. We strain it just enough to get the wax out, which leaves the pollen in and sometimes makes it a bit cloudy. That's how honey should look.

Spring honey, summer honey and borage, depending on what the bees give us
Chunk honey and cut comb when there's comb to spare
A QR code on every jar shows which apiary it came from
Order online, or collect from us in Staincross

Shop Yorkshire honey

Staincross Apiaries honey awarded Best in Show at Penistone Show

Best in ShowOur honey took Best in Show at Penistone Show.

Jar of Yorkshire chunk honey with a piece of natural honeycomb

Jar of soft set Yorkshire honey from Staincross Apiaries

Row of beehives beside a field of yellow oilseed rape near Barnsley — Hives out on the oilseed rape in spring, where our soft set honey starts.

Hands-on, small groups

Beekeeping experiences

In 2019 we built a bee classroom on site. Sessions start there, then you suit up and come into the apiary to open a hive with me.

You'll hold a frame of bees, look for the queen and, if we're lucky, watch a new bee chew her way out of her cell. Families, birthdays, people who've wanted to do it for years. All welcome.

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Two guests in bee suits looking at a frame of bees on a beekeeping experience in Barnsley

A new honey bee emerging from its cell during a beekeeping experience

A home-bred Yorkshire queen bee on the comb

4.9 on Google

What visitors say

Staincross Apiaries

4.9

review us on

Lucy B.

3 weeks ago

Had a fab experience learning about beekeeping, very in detail and so interesting!!

James M.

1 month ago

Richard was friendly, knowledgeable and great at explaining in a way that kept us and the kids interested. We learned so much about bees and beekeeping. Their lifecycle, which bees do what jobs and how they navigate. It was a really interesting, hands-on experience. The children especially enjoyed seeing the bees up close, seeing the new bees emerge from the cells and even got to hold a frames full of bees. We would definitely recommend the experience to families and anyone interested in learning more about these amazing insects. Thank you, Richard, for a brilliant and memorable afternoon!

Abbie-Lee H.

2 months ago

Had such a lovely time learning about bees with my 5 year old son. He recalled all the bee facts to his dad when we returned and has already said he wants to come back. Can highly recommend!

Chloe W.

3 months ago

Just been here and it is a stunning place, the bee keeping experience is not only very informative we also had a chance to hold the frames so we could spot any larvae. Richard who was the one presenting was lovely and knew a lot so answered any questions we had, 10/10 would recommend for anyone wanting to get into bee keeping

Bev S.

3 months ago

A totally fascinating experience. Richard is so warm, welcoming and vastly knowledgeable. His passion for beekeeping is infectious and his gentle love, respect and care for all the ladies and gents working so hard in the hive he showed us on 21st June 26 was heartwarming. We saw bees being “born” We met the Queen. We watched bee communications, housekeeping operations and even one or two bees having a “telling off” for not doing the job properly! Absolutely mesmerising. The gentle hum of the entire hive buzzing was so relaxing, I could have stayed all day. I’ve always loved bees and after enjoying the experience hosted by Richard so much, I am completely inspired to learn more so that one day soon I will have a hive of my own. Thank you so much 🐝

Angie W.

1 year ago

What a wonderful bee experience myself and my daughter had today. A bee keeping experience has been on my bucket list for 40 years. Richard was so knowledgeable and taught us so much about the complex life of a bee. Who knew they actually do a dance to tell the other bees where to go to find pollen? Richard made sure we saw the 'waggle dance,' a baby bee emerging into the hive, the queen bee, and so much more about hive life. This experience was a fabulous birthday present from my daughter.

Laura B.

1 year ago

Wonderful experience, every human should understand and take the time to listen to what Richard shares about bees. He’s a brilliant guide and made for a fabulous experience for any age!!

Katharine H.

1 year ago

Amazing day we would highly recommend anyone with an interest in bees. Richard delivers the day with so much knowledge. We’ve had a great day thanks so much

Sally B.

1 year ago

What an amazing experience! I highly recommend going if you love nature, honey or bees. Richard is a wealth of information. The experience was fascinating and honey was delicious too!

Jill S.

1 year ago

Fabulous experience! Richard is incredibly knowledgeable and shares this in an engaging and interesting way. Fascinating morning makes us realise the complexity and importance of looking after our bees. We love the honey too 🐝. Thank you Richard, from Blythe and Jill

Muhammad S.

2 years ago

Best Locally Produced Honey The flavor is rich, natural, and absolutely delicious. It’s clear that a lot of care and passion go into producing this high-quality honey. I truly appreciate the effort and dedication you put into your craft. Thank you for providing us with such an exceptional product. Keep up the amazing work, and I look forward to enjoying more of your honey in the future!

Nancy B.

2 years ago

I definitely would recommend this beekeeping experience. I took along my seven year old grandson and was amazed at how enthralled he was. Richard was encouraging, very knowledgeable and answered all my grandson’s questions. The hands-on experience was extremely safe and a joy to be so close to these beautiful and amazing creatures.

Ashley H.

2 years ago

The beekeeping experience is an amazingly fun an educational experience. It's the bee's knees! (the rest of the bees where there too)

Nia E.

2 years ago

Brilliant bee keeping experience. Richard is so knowledgable and enthusiastic. So interesting to learn so much more about Bees and their lives. Great day. Thank you xxx

Koby Mcmanus (.

3 years ago

Lovely honey, good eggs, and everything bee related you could possibly want.

David

3 years ago

What an absoluty brilliant experience, I would recommend to anyone

Angela G.

4 years ago

Just completed the Beekeeping Experience today and would definitely recommend Richard to any of my friends and family. Superb experience from start to finish, his knowledge and enthusiasm was brilliant and he was so patient as we had 100's of questions. The honey is delicious too. Will definitely be back

Skye B.

5 years ago

Amazing!! Attended the beekeeping experience as a present for my mums birthday, and was not disappointed! Even though it was my mother that had the initial interest in the bees, we both really enjoyed it and found Richard really informative and entertaining. Would definitely recommend to friends and family, and will be sure to revisit!

How it started

A swarm in the field, and a boot full of bees

A swarm landed in our field and a kind beekeeper came out to collect it. That was it for me. A bee talk at Young Farmers led to the Barnsley Beekeepers' beginners' course, and six weeks later a hive was shoved into the boot of my car and I was sent on my merry way. Six weeks wasn't nearly enough. I got stuck in anyway.

Dad and I started with two hives next to the polytunnel. We had great fun and argued constantly, as fathers and sons do. When he died in 2010 I carried on, and Mum has become a reluctant but very handy beekeeper, especially at extraction time. I've been teaching since 2012.

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