Yorkshire beekeeper is feeling on top of the Wolds after netting deal with luxury firm

A Yorkshire Wolds beekeeper is creating a buzz with a range of marmalade flavoured with his own homemade honey.
Mark Pennington of Yorkshire Wolds Bees.Mark Pennington of Yorkshire Wolds Bees.
Mark Pennington of Yorkshire Wolds Bees.

Mark Pennington started out by tending to hives at his home in the village of Kirby Grindalythe, East Yorkshire, as a hobby but alongside his wife Alison they have been selling honey and honey fudge at local farmers’ markets with the help of their daughters Kathryn, 19, and Sarah, 15.

Their early success, under the name Yorkshire Wolds Bees, prompted Mark to come up with his own range of honey marmalades in three different flavours - orange and honey; orange, ginger and honey, and lemon and honey.

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The latter was awarded an international accolade last month, with the lemon and honey combination seeing Mark win a prestigious Double Gold Award at the World Marmalade Awards.

It was quite the coup for Yorkshire Wolds Bees, with Mark’s product beating entries from across the globe including from as far afield as Australia, the Philippines, South Africa, Japan and South Korea.

The prize win has attracted interest from London-based Fortnum & Mason and the luxury hamper company now stocks his marmalade at their London store.

Mark said: “This is very exciting for us as a family. To go from selling our products on farmers’ markets stalls one day to seeing it displayed for sale in Fortnum & Mason the next is absolutely fantastic.”

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The family of four continue to sell their varied range of homemade marmalades at farmers’ markets in Driffield and Filey, and they are set to feature at the Living North event at York Racecourse on 28-30 March.