Our Apiaries

Quality & Passion: The Clayfields Apiary

Clayfields was founded in the Hunter Valley by partners Mike Wilkins and Stanford Deveraux, born from a shared passion and a desire to bring a more refined, artisan approach to apiculture.

Together, they are dedicated to sharing the extraordinary benefits and superior, complex flavors of honey produced with a deep respect for tradition and the natural world.

Our Apiarist, Mike Wilkins

At the heart of our operations is Mike Wilkins, a passionate apiarist whose work is centered on the health and vitality of our colonies. For Mike, beekeeping is a stewardship. He spends his days in the field, personally conducting meticulous health checks and ensuring that every hive under his care is thriving in the optimal environment. Under his leadership, the welfare of the bees is never compromised, forming the foundation of everything we produce.

The Lovedale Apiary

Our Lovedale Apiary directly adjoins the pristine Werakata National Park, a sanctuary renowned for its vibrant birdlife and native fauna. This location is defined by its spectacular spring wildflowers. The surrounding woodlands—dominated by Spotted Gums, Ironbarks, and Red Gums—protect endangered plant communities like the Kurri Sand Swamp Woodland. In spring, the landscape erupts in color with Happy Wanderer, Hairpin Banksia, and the crimson Mountain Devil. The bees forage amidst ground orchids and Thyme Honey Myrtle, alongside rare species such as the North Rothbury Persoonia and Earps Gum, creating a honey of incredible botanical complexity.

The Pokolbin Apiary

Situated at the foothills of the Pokolbin State Forest, our private 100-acre Pokolbin Apiary offers a rugged and diverse foraging ground. The dry sclerophyll forests here are dominated by towering Spotted Gums (Corymbia maculata), Broad-leaved Ironbarks (Eucalyptus fibrosa), and Grey Gums (Eucalyptus punctata). Alongside Drooping Sheoak and Black Cypress Pine, an understorey of Wattles and Paperbarks creates a rich tapestry of coastal and inland influences. This unique environment provides our bees with a deep, earthy nectar source that is quintessentially Hunter Valley.

A Tradition of Quality

Mike’s approach to honey production is deeply rooted in quality and tradition. Eschewing the shortcuts of industrial honey making, he favors a "slow-harvest" methodology.

Small, Seasonal Batches: We do not believe in mass production. Mike harvests in limited quantities, selecting only the finest surplus honey when the time is exactly right.

Preserving the Raw Essence: To Mike, honey is a living product. He ensures that every batch remains raw and unpasteurized. By avoiding high-heat processing, he preserves the delicate enzymes and complex nutrients that give raw honey its legendary properties.

A Reflection of the Hunter Valley

The result of this meticulous care is a premium honey that serves as a liquid map of the Hunter Valley’s unique ecosystem. Because Mike works in harmony with the shifting floral seasons—from the nectar of the Ironbarks to the delicate scent of the Thyme Honey Myrtle—Clayfields honey features unique and changing flavor profiles. Each jar authentically reflects the diverse botanical landscape of our Lovedale and Pokolbin sites, offering a taste of the Australian bush that is as rare as the flora from which it is born.