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| Pictured is Mary Hastie, who works in the visitor centre and who also created our famous ‘honey mustard’. |
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The Chain Bridge Honey Farm visitor centre was established in the early 1990s to allow the public to discover first hand the extraordinary tale of bees and honey.
The comprehensive information found on the visitor centre walls was compiled by beekeeper and honey farm employee Ann Middleditch. There are sections on bees and bee behaviour, products of the beehive, including honey, wax and propolis, different types of bee as well as bumble bees and wasps and also information on swarms. All the exhibits are hand written by expert calligrapher Dorien Irving, and are themselves works of art.
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Artist Tony Johnson painting the murals
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A most popular display is the observation hive where a living colony of bees can be viewed behind glass. You might watch these fascinating creatures for hours, particularly if you embark upon a search for the queen! See the bees visibly bring in pollen on their hind legs and perform captivating dances as they ‘speak’ to each other.
Adorning the visitor centre walls are intricate murals painted by artist Tony Johnson from nearby Horncliffe. These are a 10-year labour of love. The most recent to be unveiled is a pictorial map of
North Northumberland
and the Scottish Borders depicting no less than 110 different sites. (pics below)
An additional exhibit is Stephen Robson’s vast display of vintage vehicles, ranging from Catapillars to rare Lanz Bulldog tractors, from a stunningly restored ERF lorry to a whimsical gentleman’s caravan.
To round off your visit take tea in the café situated in a double decker bus! Yes that’s right! The café bus has been a huge hit since opening at the end of summer 2005. Goodies available include honey flapjack, honey sponge, heather honey oaties, honey with muesli and Greek yoghurt and superb heather honey ice cream (made for us by Doddington Dairy).
Admission to the visitor centre is FREE. Its opening hours are Winter (November to March) Weekdays
9am to 5pm
, Summer (April to October) 7 days 10am to 5pm.
Chain Bridge Honey Farm in association with Berwick Rotary Club holds a charity open day the first Sunday in September. This is an opportunity for visitors to witness many of our vintage vehicles in action while enjoying fantastic food and music. In recent years £1,000s have been donated to Northumberland Air Ambulance and North Northumberland Hospice. Contact Stephen Robson on 01289 386362 if you would like to show an exhibit at this year’s event.
(pics of children) Children at the 2006 Chain Bridge Honey Farm Open Day who made and painted rolled beeswax candles.
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