A boutique hotel in Chaddesley Corbett is "buzzing" after becoming the new home for one of the region's beekeeping associations. 

Four-star Brockencote Hall Hotel is working with North East Worcestershire Beekeepers' Association to house new honey bee hives, develop beekeeping masterclasses for the public and provide a space for the association to hold meetings. 

Four honey bee hives have already been established in the grounds of the Victorian country manor hotel where members of the association will visit all year round to care for the honey bees. 

This will also involve extracting honey that will be used by the hotel in its 3 AA rosette restaurant and in scent diffusers in the hotel's 24 luxury bedrooms. 

Jack Hartshorne, general manager at Brockencote Hall Hotel, said it was a case of the bees choosing Brockencote rather than the other way around. 

He said: "A few days after holding initial discussions with the local beekeepers' association about the ways we could work together, we noticed a small colony of bees had landed on one of our fences. 

"The beekeepers were able to take these bees away safely and some of these original honey bees have now been rehomed and, in a weird twist of fate, they are now part of the hives that are on site. 

"We're really pleased to be working with North East Worcestershire Beekeepers' Association. They have an expansive space where they can add more hives in the future, and we are also supporting them further by using the honey that the bees generate in return for a fee." 

A meet the beekeepers event is set to be held A meet the beekeepers event is set to be held (Image: Brockencote Hall Hotel) The footpath leading up to the newly gated area containing the beehives has been named 'Beehive Boulevard'. 

An initial 'meet the beekeepers' session is being held at the hotel on Thursday, October 31 at midday, where guests can meet the beekeepers, learn more about the bees and enjoy a two-course meal and some seasonal cocktails.

Mr Hartshorne said: "The honey will be used throughout our food menu and will also be incorporated into our cocktails and mocktails, and we'll be making honey flapjacks for guests to enjoy in their rooms. 

"We are also exploring the potential of hosting regular beekeeping masterclasses at the hotel where guests and the general public can meet the beekeepers and learn basic facts about honey bees and how to care for them." 

Dave Lantsbery, from North East Worcestershire Beekeepers' Association, added: "We're really excited to have Brockencote Hall Hotel as our new home. 

"Not only does it provide a great base for us to be able to care for our bees 24/7, but it will enable us to educate more people about honey bees and their value to our ecosystem. 

"Unlike bumble bees, honey bee colonies survive the sinter and they typically produce up to 50kg of honey in a good year. Their population tends to peak in midsummer as a result of the Queen bee beginning to lay around 2,000 eggs per day from early spring for the following three months." 

For more information visit www.brockencotehall.com/inspirational-lunch-meet-the-beekeepers/#tab-whatsincluded