Honeybees have lived in societies for some 30 million years. The pollination contracts that they hold with particular plants are much older. Human beings are some 7 million years old. We exist as herding animals aspiring to become social. We can learn a great deal from bees though we would probably not want to emulate all their achievements. Social animals regulate the size and structure of their population according to their resources. Worker bees are engineered to die when they are still fully functional which, consequently, avoids the social burden of ill health that we associate with old age. When bees are starving, they share any remaining food and die together. Only honeybees and humans can communicate navigational instructions to others of their species. The honeybee brain is a wonderful model for the study of multimodal neurons that are so important in our own decision-making processes. Bees’ ability to modulate genetic expression with food molecules is legendary. Bees challenge us to reassess our concepts of individual responsibility, emotion, empathy, intelligence and mind.

Robert Pickard is Emeritus Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Cardiff and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, the Royal Society of Medicine and the Learned Society of Wales. He is President of Cardiff Scientific Society and an invited member of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee. He is Patron of the Welsh Beekeepers Association and President of the Central Association of Beekeepers. Formerly, he was Editor of the Journal of Apicultural Research, Chair of the UK Consumers’ Association, Which?, and Director-General of the British Nutrition Foundation in London. For the UK Government, he chaired many committees, including Public Health, Nuclear Waste and the Foresight Task Force on Food’s Contribution to Health in the Future. In this photograph, Robert is at Kensington Palace illustrating the first copy of the human genome to be published in Nature.

Amongst her many roles, South African Lynne Hepplestone is a Veterinary Surgeon (registered BVSc MRCVS, a farmer, beekeeper, Scottish SBA Honey Judge, and accomplished pianist (B.Mus with Hons, in Piano). She lives on a beautiful coastal farm with family and an extended James-Herriot-inspired menagerie. Lynne is also a South African Mead Master, and further pursues her Bee interests in Melissopalynology, bringing awareness to adulterated honey, practical ASMR (Autonomic Sensory Meridian Reflex therapy), and developing South African Apitourism – the possibilities are endless for SA Beekeepers.

Lynne will be discussing the medicinal properties of honey, with veterinary cases of Honey in Wound Management.

A Wiltshire beekeeper, Richard Rickitt outlines what is involved in becoming a beekeeper, the kinds of skill you need to acquire, the kit you need, where to site your hive and how to get started.

Richard is co-editor of BeeCraft, the national beekeeping magazine (established in 1919, and the World’s oldest beekeeping journal) and author of Beekeeping for Gardeners (Bloomsbury, 2023). He keeps around 30 hives of his own bees as well as a few more for some high-profile locations and individuals. He is beekeeper at Westonbirt, the National Arboretum, where he also teaches beekeeping courses and an international award-wining author of several books.

His talks are richly and clearly illustrated and designed to fascinate and amaze – and there are always a few laughs. His talks to U3A, Rotary, Probus, WI and gardening groups are consistently voted by members as among the most fascinating and entertaining they have received.

Honey fraud is the third biggest food fraud in the world. This fascinating talk lifts the lid on the how, why and wherefore of honey fraud and adulteration, and the way that it impacts on the livelihoods of beekeepers around the world. We will also take a look at what is happening in the UK.

Lynne Ingram has kept bees for over 30 years, and runs 15-20 colonies in Somerset. She is a Master beekeeper, holds the National Diploma in Beekeeping, and is an examiner for the BBKA written and practical exams. Lynne is involved in educating beekeepers in Somerset, running study groups and curating the popular Somerset Lecture series.

Whitehall Vineyard

Whitehall Farm has been our family home for five generations, since 1894. We’ve been working the land in this enchanting pocket of the British countryside for over a century.

Our history of growing and farming naturally evolved into a desire to take on a new challenge, to produce premium English wines. Whitehall Vineyard was established in 2017 with the support of a small team of planters, who helped us plant the vines one by one.

Since then, we’ve been carefully crafting our wines with charming British flavours to enhance any dining experience, or simply to enjoy on their own.

Whitehall Vineyard

Wadworth Brewery

Wadworth is an independent family regional brewer and pub company, which has been brewing beer in the beautiful market town of Devizes since 1875. Originally founded by Henry Alfred Wadworth, the business passed to his founding partner John Smith Bartholomew and is now in the fifth generation of ownership by the Bartholomew family, with Toby Bartholomew leading the company as Managing Director.

The brewery combines the tradition of craft beer with modern production techniques and systems, pub signs are still hand painted in our sign shop and the Wadworth shire horses deliver beer around the town most weeks of the year. Our brewery tap & shop, located on site at the brewery, is open throughout the week for beers and food, events, and takeaway beer and merchandise.

In addition to our family brewery we operate in excess of 150 pubs, many with rooms to stay, across the South West of England and London; all offering a warm welcome, down to earth hospitality and quality food and drink.

Wadworth is delighted to be sponsoring the The Wiltshire Bee and Honey Day. https://www.wadworth.co.uk/

Corsham Print

‘In a digital world, print stands out’ – Our creative solutions have been helping businesses and organisations grow for over 40 years. Supporting the event’s printing requirements.

Bees Abroad 

Bees Abroad is working to enable communities to empower themselves through sustainable beekeeping. Together with in-country partner organizations and local beekeeper trainers, Bees Abroad educates and mentors communities in appropriate and sustainable beekeeping practices, supporting business creation and environmental care.  

www.beesabroad.org.uk

Bee Depot

Diane Sleigh runs courses, sells bee kit, honey, bee colonies and bee gifts, and gives presentations on all things bee. All EH Thornes supplies. BBWear suits – try before you buy. Second hand kit bought and sold.

thebeedepot

Bee Happy Glass Designs

Hello, my name is Suzanne and I handmake vibrant, contemporary fused glass for the home, garden and of course, yourself. Bees often make an appearance in my designs which include greeting cards with a keepsake, suncatchers, mobiles, games, dishes and clocks, to name a few – each unique piece being handcrafted in my ‘Hive’ in Bath.

www.beehappyglassdesigns.co.uk

The Bee’s Knees

I’m Emma Morley, one of Wiltshire’s many beekeepers. I make and sell a range of delicious honey treats using completely natural ingredients including organic homegrown produce from my garden.  All products are lovingly handmade in my Wiltshire kitchen and the star of every show is, of course, the delicious honey made by my clever little bees.  I also make pure beeswax products including candles, food wraps, soaps and lip balms as well as some hand thrown ‘bee themed’ pottery.  Come along and have a look –  I’m sure there will be something that takes your fancy.

www.thebeeskneeshoney.co.uk

Candle Cavern

Providing natural hand poured beeswax candles from sustainable and renewable sources. Available will be dinner, pillar and tealight candles as well as other beeswax products including polish and ‘wraps’. Supporting British beekeeping, business and craftsmanship.

www.candlecavern.co.uk

Clive Shellard

Enamel on copper, jewellery and pictures inspired by wildlife.

Hive Mind

We are Hive Mind, started in 2018 by brothers Kit and Matt in the beautiful Wye Valley in the Welsh Borders. Combining our love of nature with our interest in brewing. We set out to create something as original as possible by taking the world’s oldest form of alcohol, and giving it a modern twist. What we have created is innovative, light, refreshing and rich in flavour, but also steeped in history. A true blend of old and new.

We could go on about passion, pride and perfection, but that should come over on the first sip. We aim to be different. Many think Welsh mead is sweet and strong and something drunk by druids and monks. Well that was then (and occasionally now during the summer solstice).

With mounting quantities of honey mead from our own bees and a desire to drink something different, we began creating session strength meads made with great ingredients and delicious flavours. Our mead is a marriage of modern brewing techniques applied to the most ancient beverage. So please take what preconceptions you have, and refresh them.  We bring you sparkling, medium sweetness, flavourful Welsh mead. We start with the best quality ingredients we can lay our hands on, add yeast and time, and leave the product to do the talking. www.wyevalleymeadery.co.uk

Herbs for Healing – Luzia Barclay

Natural remedies from the beehive

Apart from honey we find a substance in the beehive called PROPOLIS. Often a ‘nuisance’ to beekeepers but it’s worth its weight in gold – not just financially but also in view of health. A well-researched remedy that supports and strengthens our immune system and helps to fight off viral, bacterial and fungal infections. Various propolis products like tinctures and ointments will be available.

https://herbsforhealing.org.uk

Hive Originals

Handcrafted natural skincare using the honey & beeswax from Wiltshire hives. Products includes award winning hand balms, hand/foot creams, moisturisers, shampoos and more.

www.hiveoriginals.co.uk

Larkrise Community Farm

Larkrise Community Farm principal focus is to support people with learning or physical disability, or who are socially or economically disadvantaged, by providing accessible education in the subjects of agriculture and animal welfare. In addition, we are pleased to offer a diverse range of supporting activities such as family activity days, riding for the disabled and 1-2-1 interaction sessions with our livestock. It’s time to release the hidden farmer in you and pay us a visit!  

www.larkrisefarm.org.uk/

Mason Millinery

Award-winning Milliner,  Tina Mason will be bringing her current collection of Bee inspired hats and headpieces which she creates in her Wiltshire studio.

www.masonmillinery.co.uk

Meadow In My Garden

This is a community interest company (CIC) based in Devizes, Wiltshire, with a love of nature. Our seed mixes will transform any space, creating a magnificent patchwork of colour throughout the summer. We care about our world and we want to do everything we can to help more people grow wildlife friendly flower meadow.

www.meadowinmygarden.co.uk

Ooh Lovely Lilo Ceramics 

Handmade ceramics a delightful collection of ceramics, mugs, teabag dishes, bowls, plates for your home as well as some beautiful gift ideas.

https://www.instagram.com/oohlovelyliloceramics/

Pamela Shellard

Hand made bee themed mugs and jugs.

RSPB

Details to follow

www.rspb.org.uk/

Susanna Gilmore Powell

Professional Artist. Painter of Bee Habitats, Gardens, Allotments, Orchards, Wild Flower Fields, Woodlands and Water.

www.susannagilmorepowell.co.uk

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

Raising awareness of the Trust’s work with nature and wildlife in the Wiltshire area.

www.wiltshirewildlife.org