About Us
Our Story | Ein Stori
Nestled in the heart of the Llŷn Peninsula, our journey began with Robert Davies, a passionate farmer rooted in a family legacy of agriculture. Growing up on a dairy farm on the Llŷn, Robert developed a deep love for the land, nurturing everything from tadpoles to chickens, and even goats. This early connection to farming ignited a lifelong passion for livestock and land management.
When Robert was a boy, his parents sold their cherished dairy farm. Recognising his unwavering love for farming, they purchased a smallholding adjacent to the original dairy farm, a piece of land that had been in the families ownership previously. This nurturing decision would prove pivotal in Robert's life.
In 2007, Robert met his wife, Julie, and together they embraced the dream of completing the house his father had started on the Eisteddfa smallholding. Julie brought with her a rich heritage of Welsh enterprise – as a descendant of Morris Evans Oils (Olew Morris Evans) and daughter to a respected garage owner in Blaenau Ffestiniog, her family's entrepreneurial spirit would later prove invaluable to their joint venture.
As they revitalised the smallholding into a working farm, Robert balanced working for a civil engineering company. However, an unfortunate injury forced him to scale back his plans. This challenge, though difficult, eventually led to a new direction.
Having always been intrigued by bees, Robert initially faced some hesitation from Julie, who was concerned about having bees around their young children. Her own childhood memories of being stung while living next door to a beekeeper made her initially cautious. However, after much deliberation, and Robert's growing determination, Julie came to see the value in his idea.
In 2016, Robert acquired his first two hives from a local bee farmer in Aberystwyth, introducing Welsh Black Bees to their smallholding. What followed was a steep learning curve. The first hives didn't survive their first season, but Robert's determination remained unshaken. The following year, he purchased five nuc boxes, and this time, armed with more knowledge and experience, all five hives thrived!
Julie, bringing her diverse business experience to the venture, became instrumental in the business side of their growing enterprise. Her background spans running her own bookkeeping business, working within a social enterprise, and her current professional role in local government. This varied experience in business and administration, combined with Robert's passion for beekeeping, created the perfect foundation for Davies a'i Gwmni Cyf.
With support from the Arfor scheme, we transformed from a humble hobby into a thriving commercial venture. Today, we blend generations of Welsh business knowledge with sustainable beekeeping practices, and minimize our environmental impact.
Our Vision | Ein Gweledigaeth
Our vision is to provide high-quality honey products that consumers can trust, with complete confidence in their origin, while pursuing sustainability where possible. All our honey undergoes rigorous testing to ensure its quality.
We wholeheartedly believe in:
- Providing premium quality food to our consumers
- Supporting the local community
- Enhancing the natural environment through pollination
- Preserving raw honey's natural properties through minimal processing
- Showcasing our beautiful corner of Wales to the world