Life is sweet as honey for hive achieving mum
AMUM who quit her job to spend more time with her family and to pursue her hobby in honey farming has now become a professional beekeeper.
Sally Egerton, 35, from Sutton, went into veterinary nursing at 17, but as she climbed the career ladder to become a practice manager, she missed dealing with animals.
After getting a beehive in 2018 at the home she shares with her husband Stephen, 38, a mechanical design engineer and their children, Chloe, seven, and Charlie, five, she became hooked on honey making.
And it wasn’t long before Chloe was buzzing about the new hobby too, becoming her mum’s little apprentice.
Sally said: “I have four hives of my own now that I look after with Chloe. She loves it and has a bright yellow bee suit and everything,
“I became a beekeeper completely by accident, but I really love it. I just wanted to be back with the animals, working in the great outdoors.”
Sally started beekeeping after a receptionist at work talked with such enthusiasm about the hobby that she decided to take it up.
Then in June 2019 she decided to quit work to spend more time with her children and practicing her new hobby, another door soon opened.
Her love of beekeeping was encouraged by Paul Beardmore, 38, owner of Happy Valley Honey and Modern Beekeeping - a local farm where Sally was a frequent visitor.
So when he offered her a beekeeper position in July 2020, allowing her to pursue her passion as a career, she was delighted.
Now she spends her days tending to the farm’s numerous hives as well as looking after her personal hives in the evening.
Sally said: “I instantly fell in love with beekeeping, There was something about being out in nature. It’s just so relaxing.
“Maybe it’s the smell of the pollen or the nectar, but it became my happy place.
“I love my job. Different flowers produce different nectar which changes the taste and consistency of the honey.
“We transport our bees to different farms, I have a smoker attached to the back of my car to keep the bees calm and drive down the road wearing my massive bee suit. I get some funny looks, but I think I look really cool.”
Although it had been a difficult decision to give up her job at the practice, Sally says she has never regretted it since.
And another perk of beekeeping for Sally is the fact she can enjoy tending her hives with her family.
She said: “I would take the kids up there at the weekend and it was just magical.”
“Chloe fell in love with the bees.
“She would catch them and stroke them. She calls them names and really loves them.
“I got her a yellow bee suit for her at Christmas 2019. Beekeeping is something we share.
“Charlie is a little more nervous, but he’s a lot younger, so it’s taken him some time to warm up to the bees.
“The four of us look after the hives together. The kids are involved in every part of rearing the bees.
“We just had our honey day the other week. The kitchen was a mess but the kids loved it so much.”