Bumblee's Preserves

16/09/2026

Yes my lovelies it’s back - Hestercombe Christmas Market - so looking forward to this one.

The Hestercombe Christmas Market returns on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th December 2026! Visitors can explore a thoughtfully curated selection of 75 stands featuring handmade gifts, artisan produce, homewares, art, and festive treats, all within the unique atmosphere of Hestercombe at Christmas.

Taking place within Hestercombe House and Bampfylde Hall, set within 50 acres of beautiful gardens, along with an on-site book shop, gift shop, free parking, restaurant, plus extra food and drink vans for this event!

The market is open 10am - 4pm on Friday 5th and Saturday 5th December, at Hestercombe Gardens, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton, TA2 8LG.

Free parking, free entry + 5% of sales will be donated to Hestercombe Gardens Trust.

Tickets are on sale now via The Somerset Collective website.
£8 for non-members, £6 for members, children up to age 15 are free.

16/09/2026

So pleased for Paul - a big step when you make it yourself. Lots of prepping for 30 whole days there 😳. So if you are heading down to visit this year, please do say hello & in the meantime give Paul a follow to see how he get himself ready for the Exeter Christmas Market.

Good luck lad, know you’ll be amazing. F x

🎄 WE’VE GOT SOME BIG CHRISTMAS NEWS! 🎄

We’ve been keeping this one under wraps for a little while, but we can finally tell you…
PJ’s Gourmet Sausage Rolls will be at the Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market 2026! 🎉

From 13th November right through until 13th December, you’ll be able to find us in our very own Christmas Market cabin in Exeter.

For a small family-run business that started five years ago during lockdown, this feels like a pretty big moment for us and we’re already working hard behind the scenes getting everything ready.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be showing you some of the preparation, the flavours we’ll be bringing, and a few other little surprises along the way 👀🎄

So if you’re heading to the Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market this year, make sure you come and find us, say hello and stock up on all your PJ’s favourites 😋
📍 Exeter Christmas Market
📅 13th November – 13th December 2026

We genuinely can’t wait ❤️

Just Roll With It!

15/09/2026

Kitchen smelling absolutely scrumptious with these fresh Passionfruit, prepping ready to make more Orange & Passionfruit Marmalade.

This is just another one of those multi-tasking flavours. It’s delicious on your Toast (particularly good on Sourdough), Croissants or Crumpets, but comes alive on Halloumi Cheese. Dry fried in the pan turned over, smearing of this on top, just soaks in beautifully and goes so well with that delicious salty, textural cheese - totally delicious. Works the same on Tofu too.

Or add a little to your overnight oats - yum 😋

If you haven’t tried this one, please add it to your must try list. The fruity freshness of the Passionfruit is simply scrummy (that’s a technical term, obviously 🤣)

F x

13/09/2026

All set up & ready to welcome you all to Taunton Independent Market after a few months away. Look forward to seeing you there & if not have a fab Sunday & even better month.

Much love,

Francine x

12/09/2026

We’re making the most of what we’ve grown & from our local growers too. The Runner Bean harvest hasn’t been great this year, so hot. Just one of the joy of gardening 😆

Hopefully as customers you’ll understand we just have to go with the hand we are dealt and that locally grown means seasonal, but proper tasty & treasured whilst it’s available.

Meanwhile a few chutney batches finished bubbling away & all jarred ready to restock the shelves.

F x

11/09/2026

It’s Friday & I’m guessing you’re ready for the weekend.

Looking forward to Sunday & being back on Castle Green for Taunton Independent Market. Catching up with fellow producers & of course you lovely lot too.

Don’t forget to add Sunday’s market to your plans this weekend, come along, enjoy the music, soak up the atmosphere & of course stock up on some delicious preserves too 😉

Have a wonderful weekend & I hope to see you there.

Much love,

Francine x

Taunton Independent Market
📍 Castle Green, Taunton
📅 Sunday 13th Sept
⏰ 10am - 3pm

10/09/2026

A longer, deeper post than normal, but sometimes it helps awareness to have a little real life behind it. ❤️

It’s a hard one to write..

Many of you know I’ve always battled with mental health issues. In fact Bumblee’s was a result of it. Seeking solace in my garden & allotments, then preserving the gluts.

It’s always a battle & sometimes that battle can become too much for some 😢

Many years ago, I lost someone very dear to su***de. It broke mine & many others hearts.

As a teenager, I never understood what level of despair he must have reached. Well… years later, I reached that level myself.

I wasn’t alone or unloved. I had an amazing, supportive husband, a home, a job & so many things I should have been grateful for.

So why would I even think of ending it?

It wasn’t really about wanting to die per se; I wanted the all-consuming despair, being a burden, worry, years of self-loathing/hatred & feeling like I wasn’t worth the air I consumed to STOP.

The only thing that interrupted those thoughts, was recalling the ache of losing someone I loved to su***de. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving that pain with my amazing husband.

Eventually, I reached out for help. I’m incredibly grateful that I did.

Sadly, not everyone has that interruption & is in such a dark place they genuinely cannot see another way out.

If you ever get close to thinking you aren’t worth the air you consume, or you just want the pain/worry to stop. Please know you’re worth listening too, entitled to be here & truly deserve the chance to be happy my lovely.

Please reach out for help. Tell someone. A friend, partner, GP, a helpline, anyone. I’m happy to listen or offer a hug - I’m a hugger after all. ❤️

And, if you suspect someone’s struggling with life, let them know you’re there. Maybe make a coffee & listen, if they’ll talk. If not, just be there.

Sometimes it can be enough just to interrupt those thoughts to help someone get through the next few minutes & strong enough to move forwards.

For the love of Mother Nature, please be kind to your fellow human beings & to yourselves too.

With so very much love,

Francine x ❤️

Samaritans — call 116 123

***depreventionday

07/09/2026

Oh it smells sooooo good in here. Lots & lots of batches of what many of you have been waiting & asking for.

Yes I know it’s September, but this one has been requested since March - think that would have been a little early for Christmas 🤣 One customer described this as “The Good STUFF!” 😆

Not just for toast (I mean what Marmalade even is “just for toast”) this one is a perfect addition to the Christmas cheese platter, ideal with those leftovers on Boxing Day & THE one to glaze your Christmas ham .

Fruitiness of the thicker cut Blood Oranges, with Cranberry & lashing & lashing of Bourbon with notes of maple, oak & vanilla.

Yummy 😋

F x

05/09/2026

Yeap 111 sleeps until Christmas 🤣

I know it only September but it’s certainly festive in the kitchen, over the past few days. Need to make plenty to stock up the shelves.

Heady with Cherry Brandy as the pans bubble away with lots of my Merry Berry Jam on the go.

The tart fruity smell of Cranberries & maple’y sweet scent of the bourbon with the blood oranges in the Marmalade.

September or not, just wait, the selection boxes will be in the supermarkets any day now, if not already 😆

So the countdown begins, just call me Mrs Bumble-Clause 🤣 🤶

Have a great weekend my lovelies,

Francine x