Celebrating 75 years of Quince Honey Farm!

This year marks the 75th anniversary of Quince Honey Farm and we celebrated the occasion on Monday 22^nd April with a special Open Day. Local businesses, fellow attractions and friends of the honey farm were invited along to explore our attraction and celebrate with us.

Guests were offered a celebratory glass of fizz and an anniversary cupcake and were able to join all the tours and activities, meet the team and find out just what makes the honey farm buzz!

The farm was established in 1949 by George Wallace, a fiery Scotsman who settled in North Devon after being demobbed into beekeeping following WWII. He started with two hives of bees in his garden at Quince Cottage in Rose Ash, just outside South Molton, and named his new enterprise Quince Honey Farm. Three relocations later, it is still owned by the Wallace family today, having passed onto Paddy, George’s son, his wife Jean and their son Ian, George’s grandson.

We have seen many changes over the years as we’ve grown and adapted, but in 2019 we took our biggest step yet as we relocated to a brand-new, purpose-built development half a mile from South Molton at Aller Cross. 2024 is therefore a double celebration year, as it not only marks our 75^th anniversary, but also our 5^th year at the new site.

Ian Wallace said, ‘We are so proud to still be here running the family business in our rural north Devon community. Over these 75 years the farm has changed and grown, but family and community have remained at its heart. Give it a few more years and the fourth generation of the Wallace family could well be running the show!’

This latest move allowed us to expand in all areas, particularly the tourist attraction. Visitors can enjoy a full programme of tours and activities all designed to educate and entertain people about bees and their importance in the world. A live demonstration of beekeeping can be enjoyed in complete safety, as well as honey tasting, beeswax candle rolling and time to explore the new exhibitions featuring bespoke artwork, and the Nectar Gardens which are designed and planted specifically for bees, other pollinators, and the local wildlife.

Ian says, ‘Our aim is to blow people’s minds with the wonder of bees and inspire them to take what they have learned away with them. It’s so gratifying to hear feedback from people who have discovered a new love for watching the bees buzz around, and now actively encourage them into their own gardens.’

The new site also includes the multi award-winning Nectary Restaurant, which recently won gold at the Taste of the West Hospitality Awards 2024, the shop selling our own honey, skincare, candles, local produce and gifts, and the Play Hive soft play area.

Then there is the beekeeping and honey production, which is where it all started 75 years ago and is still at the core of the business. Ian explains, ‘We now have a few hundred apiaries across the county, approximately 1500 hives of honeybees, and a small team of beekeepers who dedicate their time caring for our honeybees in order to harvest the most delicious local Devon honey. We have established strong links with the local community, including the farmers and landowners across north Devon who host our apiaries, and are proud to work with and support many businesses in the local area.’.

Ian continues, ‘Our Open Day was absolutely buzzing! We had a wonderful day welcoming so many local businesses through the doors. Thank you to all who were able to attend.’ 

Click HERE to find out all about our daily activities.

And HERE to see our upcoming events.