About Ashfield Honey

Pure honey from the heart of the Ashfield Estate

Crafted amongst the wildflower meadows, ancient woodland and open countryside of the Ashfield Estate near Romsey in Hampshire, Ashfield Honey is a premium English honey shaped by the landscape.

Produced in limited quantities from just fourteen carefully managed hives, every jar reflects the changing seasons, diverse flora and quiet rhythms of the valley of the River Test (If demand exceeds supply, honey will be used from nearby apiaries).

You’ll find Ashfield Honey at Winchester Farmers’ Market on the second and last Sunday of every month — one of the largest farmers’ markets in the country. Come and say hello to the team, ask Pete about the hives, and pick up a jar or two of raw, unfiltered honey straight from the estate.

About Ashfield honey & the estate landscape

The Ashfield Estate has been carefully curated by the same family since 1736, with a long-standing respect for the countryside, wildlife and traditional rural craftsmanship. That same philosophy lies at the heart of Ashfield Honey.

Set within the rolling farmland, the estate provides a rich and varied habitat where bees and wildlife thrive. Ancient woodland, open pasture, hedgerows and wildflower-rich meadows create an ideal environment for pollinators throughout the changing seasons.

The estate’s woodland includes established native species such as beech, sweet chestnut, oak, ash and Scots Pine, helping to create a diverse ecosystem that supports bees, birds, mammals and other local wildlife. Alongside careful land stewardship, Ashfield actively encourages biodiversity across the estate, creating habitats that allow nature to flourish naturally and sustainably.

Artisan honey

Throughout Spring and Summer, the bees forage across this varied landscape, gathering nectar from blossom, native wildflowers and seasonal flora unique to the Hampshire countryside. The result is an artisan honey with subtle variations in colour, texture and flavour from season to season, a true reflection of the land from which it comes.

Every jar captures something of the estate itself: the richness of the woodland, the diversity of the landscape and the careful balance between nature, wildlife and traditional countryside management.

Our honey is gently extracted and minimally processed to preserve its natural complexity and character, creating a pure and authentic honey that can be enjoyed simply on fresh bread, paired with cheese or added to breakfast and baking.

Meet the beekeeper – Pete Welch

Behind every jar of Ashfield Honey is the care and experience of beekeeper Pete Welch.

Passionate about bees, pollinators and the natural world, Pete has spent years developing his understanding of hive management and sustainable beekeeping. Working closely with the rhythms of the seasons, he carefully oversees each of the estate’s fourteen hive colonies to ensure the bees remain healthy and resilient throughout the year.

For Pete, beekeeping is about more than honey production. It is about supporting biodiversity, protecting the local environment and maintaining a close connection to traditional countryside skills.

His calm, hands-on approach and deep respect for the hives are central to the quality and character of Ashfield Honey.

“Good honey starts with healthy bees and a healthy landscape.”

Pete Welch

Unfiltered, unheated, naturally better.

Unlike many commercial honeys, Ashfield Honey is never heavily processed or heat treated.

Instead, it is gently extracted and lightly strained only enough to remove natural wax particles while preserving the flavour, texture and natural qualities that make minimally processed honey so distinctive.

This careful approach allows the honey to retain its natural depth, floral complexity and smooth finish, exactly as the bees created it.

Natural crystallisation is part of the character of authentic honey and a sign of minimal processing.