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  1. Bridgend beekeeper named finalist in BBC Countryfile Young Countryside Champion Award 2025

    Dafydd Pett, 22, launched The Welsh Honey Company as a teenager after inheriting his grandfather’s hives. What began as a handful of colonies in the back garden has grown into a thriving national brand, supplying honey to farm shops, butchers and delis across Wales and the UK.

    The BBC Countryfile award, part of the broadcaster’s annual Food and Farming Awards, celebrates young people making a difference in rural life. Dafydd was chosen from thousands of nominees across the UK.

    From back garden hives to national recognition

    Dafydd’s journey into beekeeping began at the age of 11, when his grandfather, Mike Pett, introduced him to the craft. After Mike’s death in 2017, Dafydd inherited 30 hives and decided to continue the family tradition.

    “I realised early on that bees are far more than just producers of honey,” he said. “They are integral to pollination, vital to biodiversity, and essential to the survival of many plant species. Beekeeping wasn’t just a hobby for me — it was a responsibility.”

    By 17, Dafydd had formally launched The Welsh Honey Company, balancing his growing business with GCSEs and A‑levels. He also represented Wales at the International Meeting of Young Beekeepers in Slovakia in 2019, and now serves as a trustee and youth representative for the Bridgend Beekeepers Association.

    A black and white portrait of beekeeper Dafydd Pett beside stacks of wooden hive trays at his apiary.Dafydd Pett carefully carries a hive tray filled with bees and honey during a routine inspection.A close‑up of wooden hive trays marked “Pett,” first used by Dafydd’s grandfather and still part of the family beekeeping legacy.A young Dafydd Pett smiles at the camera while his grandfather tends to a hive in the background — the moment that sparked his passion for bees.

    Awards and advocacy

    The Welsh Honey Company has won multiple accolades, including Welsh Honey Enterprise of the Year in 2023 and 2024, and several Great Taste Awards. Dafydd has also built a following through YouTube tutorials and school visits, encouraging more young people to take up beekeeping in an industry where the average age is 65.

    “Breaking into the honey industry is extremely difficult as the big businesses have dominated for decades,” he explained. “But I knew I had to think outside the box, use my youth to my advantage, and show people that Welsh honey can compete on quality and sustainability.”

    Looking ahead

    Now marking his 11th year as a beekeeper, Dafydd says he is focused on expanding sustainably while staying true to his roots.

    “We’ve always been committed to working with nature, not against it,” he said. “The future of Welsh honey is bright, and we’re just getting started.”

    The winner of the BBC Countryfile Young Countryside Champion Award 2025 will be announced later this year.

    Related stories from Swansea Bay News

    Welsh gin, oysters and honey granted protected status
    Iconic Welsh products including honey gain protected status, safeguarding heritage and boosting local producers.

    Carmarthenshire honey producers take next generation of bee farmers under their wings
    Local businesses mentor apprentices to secure the future of Welsh honey and protect pollinators.

    New honey cultivates collaboration between Wales and Ukraine
    Partnership between Welsh and Ukrainian beekeepers brings a unique honey to UK shelves while supporting war‑hit producers.

    Carmarthenshire ice cream maker wins top Great Taste Award
    Mario’s Luxury Dairy Ice Cream scoops the Golden Fork for Wales with its Blackcurrant and Cassis Sorbet.

    #BBCCountryfile #BBCCountryfileYoungCountrysideChampionAward #beekeeper #Bridgend #BridgendBeekeepersAssociation #foodDrink #GreatTasteAwards #honey #TheWelshHoneyCompany #WelshHoney

  2. Carmarthenshire ice cream maker wins top Great Taste Award

    Mario’s Luxury Dairy Ice Cream, based in Cross Hands, scooped the Golden Fork from Wales for its Blackcurrant and Cassis Sorbet. The award was announced at the Great Taste Golden Forks ceremony after months of judging by more than 500 chefs, buyers and food writers.

    The sorbet, praised by judges for its strong fruit profile and smooth texture, was chosen from over 14,000 products entered into this year’s awards. It had already achieved the maximum three‑star rating before being named Wales’ best food or drink product.

    Multiple award wins

    Mario’s also collected further accolades in 2025, with its Clotted Cream Ice Cream earning three stars, and two‑star ratings for its Clotted Cream Raspberry Ripple and Olive Oil, Honey and Rock Salt flavours.

    Founded more than 40 years ago by Italian‑born ice cream maker Mario Dallavalle, the company uses milk from a Carmarthenshire dairy and Welsh cream across a range of more than 40 products. Its ice creams and sorbets are supplied to hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and independent retailers across Wales and the UK.

    Praise from Welsh Government

    Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca‑Davies, who is also Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, congratulated the company, calling it “a shining example of the excellence and creativity that define Welsh food and drink.”

    Record year for Welsh produce

    The Guild of Fine Food, which runs the awards, said Mario’s was one of a record 146 Welsh products to receive Great Taste recognition in 2025. This included eight products awarded three stars, 40 with two stars and 98 with one star, ranging from artisan cheeses and craft ciders to meats and baked goods.

    Established in 1994, the Great Taste Awards are regarded as one of the UK’s most rigorous food and drink competitions, with entries judged through blind tastings. Only around 2% of products achieve the top three‑star ranking each year.

    #awards #BlackcurrantAndCassisSorbet #Carmarthenshire #ClottedCreamIceCream #CrossHands #GoldenFork #GreatTasteAwards #HuwIrrancaDaviesMS #MarioSIceCream

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