A LIFELONG PASSION ON THE SLOPES OF THE SURREY HILLS
On Monday 15th of June 2025, a rather special delivery arrived at our Chilworth Manor Vineyards. We have always been incredibly lucky to have honeybees pollinating our landscape in the Surrey hills, as they are a fundamental part of our eco-system; however, this time things are beautifully different.
This new arrival marks a major milestone in our long-term sustainability plans: a dedicated and completely natural bee installation.
This project is the brainchild of Matt Summerville, a long-time friend of the estate, and his passion for supporting and creating habitats for natural bees is completely infectious. Matt has spent his entire life studying how these incredible insects live when left to their own devices, away from the pressures of commercial production. Today, we feel immensely privileged to host his latest custom installation from ‘Bee Kind Hives’ right here on the estate, weaving his expertise directly into the fabric of our home.
WHAT IS IT?
When most people think of beekeeping, they picture white mesh suits, smoke and square wooden boxes built to trap bees in a cycle of production, this is the exact opposite.
This is bee-centred beekeeping.
Instead of treating the honeybee population as a food production line, this approach focuses entirely on the wild, ancient biology of the bee. Matts pioneering work over at Bee Kind Hives implements beautifully crafted, highly insulated log environments; these perfectly mimic the hollow trees that bees would naturally seek out in the wild.
There is no human interference, no constant opening of the hives, and most importantly no stress for these powerful pollinators; simply creating a safe wild home where bees can be just that..
WHY DO WE DO IT?
The answer is simple, truly natural rejuvenation.
Our vineyard doesn't just produce stunning wines, belongs to a wider living ecosystem, whereby these wild colonies reward the estate with efficient pollination that actively strengthens the biodiversity of the entire Chilworth area. It's a quiet, elegant partnership that breathes life right back into our soils, flowers, and vines.
GLASS OF WINE IN HAND AND WANT TO READ MORE?
Discover the full science and philosophy behind Matt’s incredible work here.
