Rabbi David Hulbert and Fiona Hulbert
The JJBS (Jewish Joint Burial Society) Woodland Cemetery in Cheshunt is home to two beehives – and they’ve produced a record harvest of honey this Rosh Hashanah.
Rabbi David Hulbert – of Brentwood Reform Synagogue and East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue (ELELS) – and his wife Fiona introduced the beehives to the cemetery in 2024. One of the gardeners, Dom Hambis, has quickly learned how to look after the thousands of busy workers, with lots of jars of honey now extracted.
Rabbi David said: “It’s been quite a summer of heat and drought – but that doesn’t seem to have affected the occupants of our two hives. Plenty of flowers and nectar close by mean the bees have produced a record harvest, to welcome in the new year, 5787.
“Next time you visit Cheshunt Cemetery, go up to the office in the Woodland section and buy yourself a 300g jar of the very best natural honey, for only £10. All proceeds go to the gardening budget of the JJBS – also now known as the Joint Jewish Beekeepers’ Society!”
Dom Hambis with some of the wonderful honey extracted from the two beehives