A beekeeper couple from Sale whose swarm collections caused a buzz on social media earned an award for their honey.

Gareth and Louise Trehearn's Manchester Honey Company received three stars in this year's Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards.

Previously, The Messenger reported on the couple's swarm collections across the region, which were posted on TikTok.

@manchesterhoneycompany It was cold and wet and these honey bees had been hanging onto this branch since yesterday. With the rain still going on they would have been unlikely to survive the night but luckily for this swarm, the garden owner called us and they are now warm and dry.#bees #swarm #honeybees #swarmcollector #manchesterhoneycompany #beekeeeper #beekeeping #beekeepersoftiktok ♬ Singing In The Shower - Taylor, Scott

One clip at a house in Heald Green earned around 2.8 million views, although this has since been surpassed by another clip in the city centre that has earned almost six million views.

The bees collected by Gareth and Louise, who also own a cleaning company, were added to hives in Trafford and elsewhere.

They went on to use them to make a honey for each area, including Sale Honey, Stretford Honey and Urmston Honey.

Messenger Newspapers: The couple make Sale Honey, Stretford Honey and Urmston Honey.The couple make Sale Honey, Stretford Honey and Urmston Honey. (Image: Manchester Honey Company)

Now the Guild of Fine Food has awarded one of these with three stars, the highest honour, in this year's Great Taste Awards.

A post by Gareth and Louise on the Manchester Honey Company's social media reads: "OMG! OMG! OMG! Our amazing Urmston Honey harvested from apples, blackberries and cherries in an orchard has been awarded three stars in the Great Taste Awards.

"All food is blind tested by specialist judges in each category and our honey was given the exceptionally rare three stars, classing it as exquisite.

"Our customers regularly feedback how good the honey is but to be compared nationally to the best and come out top is beyond our expectations."

For information on all the winners in the Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards, go to greattasteawards.co.uk/results.

To connect with Gareth and Louise, go to manchesterhoneycompany.com or search Manchester Honey Company on social media.


This article was written by Jack Tooth. Jack is the reporter for The Messenger and covers anything and everything from within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford.

To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.