An aerial pictuire has just been released which shows progress at Devon's newest tourist attraction, currently under construction with a plan to open in April in time for the Easter holidays.
The rural attraction is being built from scratch to replace an established business at a new location.
The new Quince Honey Farm is being built on a site just off the A361 North Devon Link Road with new buildings surrounded by landscaped gardens in the middle of farmland.
The gardens will be an attraction in themselves, surrounding the attraction buildings packed with attractions, information and entertainment.
The whole site is designed for bees - as well as tourists - with fresh planting and a dry-stone wall Bee Bole, for bees to sleep in.
There is a purpose-built nursery to supply the raised beds which have been built around a hexagonal central garden - designed to resemble honeycomb from above.
All the building and coppicing has been designed to mimic local structures, using local materials and plants.
The honey farm will also have its own restaurant at the site close to South Molton at West Ford Farm.
The farm is being planted with a new orchard and flowers meadows to "facilitate the production of honey".
The new site will also feature a ‘Honey Factory’ with viewing galleries, a frame store and workshop, a bee exhibition centre, education centre, a visitor centre containing a shop,café and toilets, an indoor play area with party rooms, "extensive" gardens and on site holiday accommodation.
The business already attracts around 46,000 people each year and it is hoped the relocation will help attract more visitors to the area
As well as the 47 jobs currently provided, 15 more roles will be created straight away as well as an extra 37 jobs over the next five years.
Now one of Britain’s leading honey farms Quince Honey Farm is family run and was first established in 1949 by World War Two Para George Wallace with two hives of bees,
Near the end of his service George read a book about beekeeping and became obsessed with the craft. He was one of only a few men in the entire British Army to be demobbed into beekeeping. He gained practical beekeeping experience at Yorkshire apiaries where he was told he worked too hard.
George moved South to North Devon to live with his father in Quince Cottage. George had two hives of bees and ambitiously called his operation Quince Honey Farm.
In 1959 the business moved to South Molton in the old school.
By the early 1970s sons Paddy and Jon were involved in the business and hive numbers rose quickly from 750 to 1500. George had realised his dream of creating the largest honey farm in Britain.
In 1978 the business relocated again to larger premises in South Molton, the old work house.
This site allowed the family to pursue a new dream; creating an exhibition of honeybees. In the 1980’s the exhibition became the most extensive honeybee exhibition in the world. Paddy’s mechanically operated observation hives are renowned, and acknowledged by beekeepers across the globe to be the most innovative in the world.
In the 90’s Paddy and Jean developed new products such as a range of skin care products, honey marmalade, honey mustard, honey chutney and furniture polishes. These were sold in the shop on the farm in South Molton and also mail order.