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A taste for honey

Three handcrafte­d beehives for the gardens of Highgrove is a birthday gift that is sure to be well-received by the bee-loving Prince of Wales, writes Jessica Doyle

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Bespoke beehives make a perfect royal present

When Fortnum & Mason commission­ed a birthday present for the Prince of Wales, its choice couldn’t have been more appropriat­e: three exquisitel­y handcrafte­d beehives, a reference not only to the Prince’s concern for the plight of bees, but also to the hives on the roof of the Fortnums building, from which it produces its Piccadilly London Honey.

The Prince suggested a designer for the project: Anthony Paine, an architect known for blending classical references with contempora­ry buildings, whom he met several years ago and who has since worked on designs for the Prince in Cornwall and at Poundbury.

‘The beehives were quite an extraordin­ary project,’ Paine reflects. ‘I’ve not worked on anything quite like this before.’ The gardens at Highgrove are, he explains, designed as ‘a series of rooms and environmen­ts, each of which says something different to you’. They are defined by individual planting, but also by garden buildings and sculptures that reflect the characteri­stics of each space.

With this in mind, Paine started on a two-year design process, during which he came up with 20 options in the form of pen-and-ink sketches for the Prince to choose from. The challenge was to create something aesthetica­lly striking, with a traditiona­l character that would appeal to the Prince, but also with a functional element that would satisfy the bees. To this end, Paine worked in close consultati­on with Steven Benbow, keeper of the hives at both Highgrove and Fortnum & Mason. ‘We wanted to be sure the bees would be happy, rather than flying away in fright,’ he says. ‘Essentiall­y, the structures are follies; they are carcasses on top of standard beehives, and are easy to dismantle, so that Steven can remove the façades to get to the honey.

‘I wanted to reflect the Prince’s interest in classical architectu­re, but with a sense of humour. It’s taking fun seriously, if you like; they are working beehives, but fun buildings, in the true sense of what a folly is.’

The three structures that made the final cut display the influence of classical architects such as Vanbrugh, Wren and Hawksmoor, but, says Paine, are ‘slightly naive and restrained in the detailing’. Built in English oak by specialist joiners Coryndon, they are embellishe­d with six-inch-long bronze bees, and one is topped by a verdigris copper dome. ‘That’s about the only bright colour there,’ says Paine. ‘They’re intended to settle into the landscape. They’re not treated with any oils or varnishes, so they will patinate over the years and mature graciously, as oak does – it goes a nice grey colour, but you can still see the grain.’

Ultimately, the hives will stand on rough stone plinths, but for now they are on temporary bases made from plywood and painted to resemble stone, so that the Prince can try them out in different parts of the garden before settling on their final position. ‘It’s been a very slow decision-making process; the whole project has had a gentleness, which I’ve enjoyed very much,’ says Paine.

Once they are in situ, the honey from the hives will be sold through the Highgrove shops and website, with all proceeds going to The Prince’s Charitable Fund. For now, the honey produced this year from the standard hives currently in place at Highgrove is being sold as a special 70th birthday edition through Fortnum & Mason.

They are working beehives, but fun buildings, in the true sense of what a folly is

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