Holywells Park will be selling its own honey for the first time this month after beekeepers at the park harvested enough for dozens of jars.

Ipswich Star: Holywells Park Bee Keepers Charle Currie (L to R) Yvonne Westley, Peter Locke and volunteer ranger Nick PetticanHolywells Park Bee Keepers Charle Currie (L to R) Yvonne Westley, Peter Locke and volunteer ranger Nick Pettican

The Friends of Holywells Park acquired a beehive several years ago when a previous owner had to give up their hive.

The park now has two hives owned by the Friends group and a further two privately owned, with the hardworking bees having been busy all summer creating honey.

Now, having cut enough honey to fill 70 eight-ounce jars, the park’s reception and cafe will be selling Holywells Honey for the first time. Yvonne Westley, treasurer of the Friends of Holywells Park who has helped organise the honey-collecting, said: “I think it’s going to be fantastic.

“Not many people know about the bees in Holywells Park so when they see the honey in the shop it will be great.

“We want to produce more next year, and we have already got another hive on the way.”

Thanks to Heritage Lottery Funding for the park’s revamp, the Friends are hoping to get hold of one or two more hives, which should enable the group to produce and sell more honey next year.

A few jars have also been saved for the park’s Apple Day event on Saturday, October 22, in celebration of the park’s thriving orchard.

Ms Westley added: “We have had the hives for a couple of years but it was all about making sure they get through the winter at first.

“But this year they have come on so well, and we want to make sure we can continue to successfully make some each year.”

The honey will be on sale at the park later this month.