Brawliemuir Farm

Brawliemuir Farm www.brawliemuirfarm.co.uk
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✨ Handmade with Love | Eco-Friendly Goods ✨
🧶 Handcrafted Rugs | Wool & Beeswax Candles
🍯 Pure, Local Honey | Sustainably Sourced
🌱 Eco-Conscious Living | Crafted in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
👇 Shop Now & Bring Nature Home!

The Story Behind Our Oilseed R**e HoneyEvery spring, our bees are moved to the countryside between Johnshaven and Lauren...
17/06/2026

The Story Behind Our Oilseed R**e Honey
Every spring, our bees are moved to the countryside between Johnshaven and Laurencekirk, where the landscape is shaped by rolling fields of cereals and bright yellow oilseed r**e.
Johnshaven and Laurencekirk are farming communities, and during April and May the vibrant yellow bloom of oilseed r**e becomes one of the most important food sources for honey bees.
Oilseed r**e, a member of the brassica family, is an exceptional nectar-producing crop. On warm, calm spring days it releases abundant nectar, drawing thousands of foraging bees into the fields. After a long Scottish winter, colonies expand rapidly at this time of year, often becoming strong enough to create new colonies through swarming.
For the beekeeper, this is one of the busiest periods of the season. Colonies must be inspected frequently to manage swarming, while honey production needs to be monitored closely because oilseed r**e honey crystallises incredibly quickly – sometimes even while it is still in the comb.
So why do I call it Oilseed R**e Honey rather than simply Spring Honey?
Because I believe honey should tell the story of a place and a season.
Last season's crop was independently tested and showed an impressive 96% oilseed r**e pollen content. The 2025 harvest is still awaiting its own analysis, but our bees have once again been placed alongside the same carefully selected fields between Johnshaven and Laurencekirk. By returning to the same landscape year after year, we strive to produce a honey that remains a true reflection of this place, this season, and the flowers that define it.

That level of traceability matters to me. I want every jar to be an honest reflection of the landscape from which it came, giving customers confidence in exactly what they are buying.
The result is a beautifully pale ivory honey with a naturally velvety texture and a delicate flavour that captures a small piece of spring in this corner of Aberdeenshire.
You can find our Oilseed R**e Honey directly from us at markets, or at:
• The Lobster Shop
• Castleton Farm
• Westerton Farm
• Sillyflatt Fare, Fields and Gatherings
A jar of honey is more than a sweet treat. It is a snapshot of a landscape, a season, and the work of thousands of bees.

🌱 A New Project for our bees 🌱This winter, we started preparing part of a field here at Brawliemuir Farm for a new exper...
15/06/2026

🌱 A New Project for our bees 🌱

This winter, we started preparing part of a field here at Brawliemuir Farm for a new experiment.

Rather than relying on herbicides, we allowed our sheep and goats to naturally graze the area before carrying out a light ploughing to incorporate organic matter and prepare the ground for sowing.

The field was then divided into four sections, each planted with a carefully selected mix of nectar-rich flowers. Instead of sowing everything at once, we staggered the planting dates from late April through to late May. The aim is simple: to try and extend the flowering season and provide a longer-lasting source of nectar for honey bees and other pollinators.

In modern agricultural landscapes, food sources for pollinators can often be abundant for a short period and then disappear just as quickly. We hope this project will help bridge some of those gaps while also creating a beautiful and diverse habitat.

For now, this is just an introduction to the project. Over the coming months, we hope to share more photos as the flowers come into bloom and, who knows, perhaps even a unique honey with a story to tell.

Stay tuned! 🐝🌸

14/06/2026

🐝 **Experience Beekeeping!** 🍯

Have you ever wondered what happens inside a beehive?

Join us for a unique beekeeping experience and step into the fascinating world of honey bees. Discover how a colony works and gain a closer understanding of these incredible insects.

During the visit, you will:

🐝 Learn about honey bees and their importance to our environment
🐝 Open a live hive and observe the colony up close
🐝 Discover the roles of the queen, workers, and drones
🐝 Learn how bees produce honey and work together as a superorganism
🐝 Finish with a tasting of a selection of honeys from around the world

To ensure a personal and interactive experience, groups are limited to just **3 participants per session**.

📅 Available on weekends throughout July
⏱ Duration: approximately 45 minutes

Whether you're curious about nature, interested in beekeeping, or simply love honey, this is a wonderful opportunity to experience life inside the hive up close.

The sessions will take place in our apiaries in collaboration with Mill of Benholm Enterprise and Westerton Farm .

Spaces are limited, so booking is essential.

If you are interested, please send a direct message or email us at [email protected]

🍯 The first fruits of a wonderful collaboration 🍯We are delighted to announce that the collaboration between Brawliemuir...
07/06/2026

🍯 The first fruits of a wonderful collaboration 🍯

We are delighted to announce that the collaboration between Brawliemuir Farm and the is already producing its first harvest.

Nestled within the orchard of this beautiful and peaceful place, our bees have gathered the flavours of the Scottish spring to create a unique multifloral honey. The nectar comes from blossoming fruit trees in the orchard, nearby oilseed r**e fields, and the rich variety of wild plants and trees growing in the woodland surrounding the mill.

The result is a delicate, naturally sweet honey that truly captures the character of spring in this corner of Aberdeenshire.

This is a limited and numbered production of only 56 jars, all available exclusively at the Mill of Benholm Café, where you can enjoy a genuine taste of the season.

Our bees are locally bred Scottish Black Bees, naturally mated in the area and cared for according to the philosophy that guides everything we do at Brawliemuir Farm: putting the wellbeing of the bees first, rather than chasing maximum production. We believe that healthy, resilient bees create the finest honey nature can offer.

As always, this honey is cold extracted and gently filtered, never heat-treated and never ultra-filtered. This preserves the natural enzymes, aromas, and pollen that make honey such a remarkable food. What you taste is as close as possible to what comes directly from our hives.

We would like to thank the team at the Mill of Benholm for their willingness to dedicate space to these incredible pollinators. The Mill is a special place where, for a moment, the pace of modern life seems to slow down and nature takes centre stage. We are proud that our bees can call it home.

We hope many of you will have the opportunity to enjoy a jar of this natural spring sweetness.

27/05/2026

In beekeeping, every choice matters.
One of the natural ways I help reduce varroa pressure in my hives is by removing frames with mostly drone brood.

Varroa mites are strongly attracted to drone cells because drones take longer to develop, giving the mites more time to reproduce inside the capped brood. By removing part of this drone brood, I can help reduce the mite population naturally, alongside the treatments and hive management practices I use throughout the season.

But here at Brawliemuir Farm, nothing goes to waste.

Instead of discarding these frames, I give them to the chickens, who happily feed on the larvae — turning something that would otherwise be removed from the hive into valuable nutrition.

For me, this is part of a wider philosophy: working with nature, respecting natural cycles, and making sure every part of the process has a purpose.

Everything is connected. Nothing wasted. 🌿🐝🐓
In beekeeping, every choice matters.
One of the natural ways I help reduce varroa pressure in my hives is by removing frames with mostly drone brood.

Varroa mites are strongly attracted to drone cells because drones take longer to develop, giving the mites more time to reproduce inside the capped brood. By removing part of this drone brood, I can help reduce the mite population naturally, alongside the treatments and hive management practices I use throughout the season.

But here at Brawliemuir Farm, nothing goes to waste.

Instead of discarding these frames, I give them to the chickens, who happily feed on the larvae — turning something that would otherwise be removed from the hive into valuable nutrition.

For me, this is part of a wider philosophy: working with nature, respecting natural cycles, and making sure every part of the process has a purpose.

Everything is connected. Nothing wasted. 🌿🐝🐓

29/04/2026

There’s something truly special about working alongside local businesses that believe in what you do.

This apiary at Westerton Farm is the result of a shared intention: creating space for pollinators and building something meaningful together. Projects like these may be small, but they carry real value—for the land, for biodiversity, and for the future.

Right now, the r**eseed is coming into full bloom. Despite the temperatures not being ideal for the bees so far, it’s still a joy to watch these tireless little workers moving from flower to flower, doing what they do best.

If the weather improves, nectar will become more available, and more bees will be ready to collect it. The hope is always there—but in beekeeping, nothing is guaranteed. Sometimes the bees need every drop they gather just to sustain the colony.

If conditions align, and the bees produce a surplus, I’ll be fortunate enough to harvest some honey. If not, I’ll stay true to my philosophy: the bees come first. What they produce is theirs before it is ever mine.

For now, I’m simply enjoying this beautiful bloom and the quiet, constant work happening within it. 🌼🐝

Because behind every jar of honey, there is uncertainty, patience, and respect for a process we don’t control—but choose to care for.

21/04/2026

Quick inspection at the Mill of Benholm Enterprise apiary today.
Natural sounds, peace and connection with the life.

This place is a real microcosm of full spring bloom — fruit trees everywhere, with wild cherry currently standing out. They’re likely providing a great source of brick-coloured pollen for my colonies right now.

Together with the ever-present oilseed r**e, this is helping to strengthen and grow the families.

One of the two nucs had to be promoted to a full hive — it simply ran out of space to grow properly. The other one probably just needs a bit more time.

Working with bees in this small, scenic corner of the world always makes me feel incredibly fortunate… a feeling confirmed today by a tiny ladybird quietly hiding under one of the nucs.

Work in progress — and hopefully soon I’ll be able to offer this same experience to those who are interested.

Almost one year.That’s how long it takes.Last year, the fleece from our Valais Blacknose sheep left the farm.Carefully p...
20/04/2026

Almost one year.
That’s how long it takes.

Last year, the fleece from our Valais Blacknose sheep left the farm.
Carefully packed. Carefully labelled. Sent to a mill willing to work with small batches, willing to respect our fibre, and willing to keep it pure — without blending, without shortcuts.

Because what grows at Brawliemuir Farm should remain exactly that.
Honest. Traceable. Authentic.

Working with small quantities is not easy.
Finding mills that accept small batches is even harder.
Waiting patiently while the fibre is washed, carded, spun, and finished takes time… a lot of time.

But quality takes time.
Respect takes time.
Nature takes time.

And today, after almost a year, I’m incredibly proud to finally introduce the first wool from our 2025 clip:

✨ Pure Valais Blacknose Double Knitting Yarn
✨ Pure Valais Blacknose Carded Wool

This is the first fibre coming from these animals — animals raised with care, respect, and attention to their wellbeing. Because I truly believe that the quality of the final product begins with the quality of life of the animal.

This wool is not mass-produced.
It’s not always available.
It doesn’t follow market trends.

It follows a philosophy.
It follows the rhythm of the farm.
It follows nature.

And this is just the beginning — more products are currently at the mill and will arrive soon, bringing even more natural colours and variety to our range.

For now, I’m simply grateful, proud, and excited to share this first step with you.

From our sheep to your hands.
Naturally. 🌿🐑

13/04/2026

🌼 Second Apiary – Westernton Farm 🐝

I’m happy to share my second apiary, now located at Westerton Farm , where the hives have been placed beside a beautiful flowering r**eseed field.

This new location represents much more than just a place for bees. It’s another step in the direction that guides Brawliemuir Farm: building local collaborations, creating meaningful relationships, and working with people who share the same values.

Here, respect for nature, attention to quality, and care for the land are essential. That’s why Westernton Farm perfectly matches my philosophy — supporting responsible farming, valuing local blooms, and allowing bees to thrive in healthy, rich environments.

The bees are already hard at work… and I can’t wait to share the results of this new adventure with you 🍯

**eseedHoney

07/04/2026

The time of year has come again — the time to move the bees.

Today I started relocating some of my colonies to new apiaries, and I’m very happy to introduce the first one: Mill of Benholm.

This collaboration is particularly meaningful to me. From the very beginning, I’ve always shared with Mill of Benholm Enterprise the same values: respect for nature, the importance of locality, and the beauty of working in harmony with the environment.

Following these principles, I decided to bring the beginning of a new journey to this special place — a landscape rich in biodiversity, with rare varieties of apples and pears, wildflowers, and a diverse natural habitat. It may not be the most intensive honey-producing location, but it offers something even more valuable: a place for bees to grow naturally, adapt, and thrive.

Today I introduced two nucleus colonies, both created last year. These colonies are headed by naturally mated queens, the result of years of natural selection from locally adapted black bees in my apiaries. These queens have successfully overwintered and represent the start of something new — two young colonies beginning their journey at Mill of Benholm.

I would love this to become a shared story.
To mark the beginning of this collaboration, I’d like to invite you to help name these two queens.

As the colonies grow, I would like to place them into two custom hives dedicated to Mill of Benholm, and follow their development together trough the season.

This is more than just placing bees in a new location.
It’s about building a connection between bees, landscape, people, and place.
It’s about supporting local biodiversity, preserving adapted bee genetics, and perhaps, in the future, creating opportunities to share the fascinating world of beekeeping with visitors and the community.

I would love to involve the community in this journey.
Help us name the two queens!
Leave your suggestions in the comments — we’ll choose two names inspired by nature, Scotland, or Mill of Benholm, and share their story as they grow.

A new apiary.
A new collaboration.
A new beginning.

Welcome to Mill of Benholm.
🐝🌿

Address

Brawliemuir Farm
Montrose
DD100HY

Telephone

+447523928419

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