Gardeners and beekeepers will be joining forces this summer for a fun festival celebrating both their passions

Tarrant Valley Gardeners and North Dorset Beekeepers are joining forces for a Bee Festival this summer.

The fun and fascinating event will be held at the Anne Biddlecombe Hall in Tarrant Keyneston on July 26 from 4pm-8pm.

There will be plenty to see and do. The gardeners will have a big plant stall and the beekeepers will be selling all sorts of products – not just their delicious local honey but other interesting items like beeswax furniture polish, face creams, wax-coated food wraps and beeswax candles. You can even have a go at rolling your own candle. In a separate room you can hear a 10-minute talk on one of several bee-related topics.

The idea was first proposed by Madeleine Hemsley, who’s one of the Gardening Club’s organising committee. She commented, “I’m a keen amateur gardener and decided to learn about the beekeeping craft this year on North Dorset Beekeepers’ course for beginners. The importance of bees and other pollinators to gardeners, and the importance of how we manage our land and what we grow to the well-being of our insect population, is really clear to see… and even clearer the more you learn about it. A joint event seemed like the natural thing to do”.

Terry Payne is the Education Officer at North Dorset Beekeepers. He said, “Education is at the heart of what we do and we’re always happy to generate interest by showcasing our fascinating hobby and the craft products that beekeepers make. Gardens are an important food source for pollinating insects. Take either of those away and the world would be a poorer place”.

Entrance is free, and there will be homemade teas, wine and nibbles, as well as stalls of other interesting and unusual items from the gardeners and their beekeeper friends.