​Taunton beekeepers Jenny and Sid Gammon scooped the blue ribbon for the best exhibit at the Taunton and Somerset honey show held at Taunton Flower Show (August 4 and 5) with their exceptional soft set honey.
 
Jenny and Sid were also awarded three trophies for hive products from prize-winning honey to exquisite wax flowers and candles.
 
Beekeepers David Pearce from Bathealton and Graham Welfare from Hatch Beauchamp were awarded four trophies each while mother and daughter, Rosemary and Eleanor Burgess from Taunton, won three.
 
Peter Maben, Chairman of Taunton Beekeepers, said: “The show is a great shop window for bees and honey, providing visitors with plenty to see and do as well as showing the enthusiasm and passion of local beekeepers.”
 
He was particularly impressed by the stunning displays submitted by local schools. Taunton primary schools - Kingston St.Mary and Holway – were joint winners.
 
Ken Tredgett, President of Somerset Beekeepers, added he was delighted to see so many visitors swarm to the feature and hoped they would leave with a love of bees, a desire to plant for pollinators and an appreciation of the work that goes into producing every pot of honey.
 
“A honeybee has to fly about 55,000 miles to make just one pound of honey, that’s one and a half times around the world! Meanwhile, it requires local beekeepers to care for their colonies all the year round as well as dealing with a very labour-intensive harvest,” he said.
 
Thousands of visitors enjoyed the beautiful marquee packed with information about  keeping bees, honey tasting, bee-friendly plants and candle rolling for children.
 
An observation hive, where bees are displayed behind glass, and an outdoor demonstration area, which is screened by protective netting, gave visitors plenty of opportunity to see honeybees at work.
 
More than 40 classes attracted entries from beekeepers who went head-to-head in a vibrant demonstration of how the ancient craft still flourishes today.
 
Taunton Beekeepers are holding a taster afternoon on Saturday, September 9; for more information contact Mike Dillon, mikedillonbees@gmail.com or 01823 669619/ 07585537030.
 
2017 Somerset Honey results
 
The Blue Ribbon for the best exhibit in Show in the judges’ opinion:  
Jenny and Sid Gammon
 
The Taunton Perpetual Challenge Trophy ( winner most points ) Taunton full member) in the show Class 1-42 Winner: SJ & JA Gammon;
The Priscott Perpetual Skep Plate (Runner up (Taunton full member) in the show  Class 32 – 42 Winner: R & E Burgess;
The Stoker Perpetual Silver Trophy (winner most points (Somerset member) in the show   Class 1 - 42  Winner: SJ & JA Gammon;
The Pat Barter Silver (plated) Trophy (winner most points classes 1 – 30) Winner:   D.Pearce;
The W .Elmsall Perpetual Observation Hive Trophy  class 16 Winner: Taunton & District Division;
The Andy Coles Memorial Trophy for Mead Class 8 – 9 Winner: G.Welfare;
The Tom Tucker Trophy for Cookery (all classes) 19 – 22 (Taunton member) Winner:  G.Welfare;
The Downes Perpetual Cup (Most points in classes 20 and 21 (Cookery) Winner: R & E Burgess;
The Gammon Perpetual Trophy (winner class 18 Novice) Winner: A.Miles;
The Taunton Honey Show plate (winner most points (Taunton Full member) in Section 2   32-42 Winner: D.Pearce;
The Sally Bennett Trophy (Runner up class 32-41  (Section 2) Winner: R & E Burgess;
The John Spiller Mascot (Best exhibit in Section 2 – in judge’s opinion) Winner: D.Pearce.
  
County Cups:
Jubilee Cup - Most points in classes 1-18 inclusive Winner: D.Pearce;
Miss M.D Bindley Cup - Winner class 2 Medium Honey Winner: S.Perkins;
Terry Arnold Perpetual Challenge Trophy – Winner classes 18 -22 incl. Winner:  G.Welfare;
The Duffin Challenge Trophy - (Cake of Beeswax) Winner class 12 Winner: R & E Burgess;
The Clifford Langford Award for Mead Winner most points classes 8 – 9  Winner: G.Welfare.
 
 Class 1 Two lb jars of light honey:
1st        D.Pearce
2nd       S.Perkins
3rd       -

Class 2  Two lb jars of medium honey1st        S.Perkins
2nd      SJ & JA Gammon
3rd    M.Crook
 
Class 3  Two lb jars of dark honey
1st         M.North
2nd        -
3rd        D.Pearce
 
Class  4 Two lb jars of naturally crystallised honey1st      A.Pike
2nd     D.Pearce
3rd      R & E Burgess
 
Class 5  Two lb jars of soft set honey
1st    R.Fox
2nd     -
3rd       -
 
Class 6  Two lb jars of heather honey
1st       A.Nelson
2nd     -
3rd   -
 
Class 7   Three lb jars of honey labelled for sale
1st     SJ & JA Gammon
2nd      D.Pearce
3rd       S.Perkins
 
Class 8  One bottle dry mead1st       G.Welfare
2nd     -
3rd      A.Nelson
 
Class 9   One bottle sweet mead
1st        G.Welfare
2nd     -
3rd       -
  
Class 10  Two containers of cut comb
1st      D.Pearce
2nd      -
3rd        -
 
Class 11  One shallow comb of honey suitable for extracting
1st       A.Pike
2nd     S.Perkins
3rd      -
 
Class 12   One cake of wax
1st      R & E Burgess
2nd     A Robbins and A Halpin
3rd      SJ & JA Gammon
 
Class 13  Composite
1st       R & E Burgess
2nd     S.Perkins
3rd      G.Welfare
 
Class 14  Embroidery/water colour/model/drawing produced by beekeeper
1st      SJ & JA Gammon
2nd     -
3rd      -
 
Class 15   Artistic/decorative exhibit relating to beekeeping
1st       SJ & JA Gammon
2nd     D.Pearce
3rd      -
 
Class 16 Observation hive
1st       Taunton & District Beekeepers
2nd     -
3rd     -
  
Class 17     - judged by public - results to be announced
 
Class 18 Novice one lb jar of honey
1st         A.Miles
2nd       M.Crook
3rd       -
 
Class 19    Walnut and honey cookies
1st       J.Crosher
2nd      G.Welfare
3rd      R & E Burgess
 
Class 20    Honey fruit cake
1st        M.North
2nd     G. Welfare
 3rd       R & E Burgess
  
Class 21 Cornish fairings
1st       R & E Burgess
2nd      D.Parry
3rd       G.Welfare
 
Class 22   Honey and banana tea bread
1st     M.North
2nd     J.Crosher
3rd     G.Welfare
 
Class 23  Three photographs in a series on a single mount
1st       A Robbins and A Halpin
2nd     J.Crosher
3rd     -
 
Class 24  Single photograph
1st      S.Perkins
2nd     A.Robbins & A.Halpin
3rd    M.North
 
Class 25  One decorative wax exhibit
1st     SJ & JA Gammon
2nd    S.Perkins
3rd     -
 
Class 26  Display of beeswax flowers
1st       SJ & JA Gammon
2nd     M.North
3rd     R & E Burgess
 
Class 27 Beeswax furniture polish or cream
1st        SJ & JA Gammon
2nd       A Robbins & A Halpin
3rd        R & E Burgess
 
Class 28  Two moulded beeswax candles
1st      A.Pike
2nd     SJ & JA Gammon
3rd      -
 
Class 29   Two dipped candles
1st        R & E Burgess
2nd      SJ& JA Gammon
3rd        -

Class 30  Honeybee forage
1st      J.Crosher
2nd     R & E Burgess
3rd     -
 
Class 31   A counter display
1st   R & E Burgess
2nd   -
3rd      A Robbins and A Halpin
 
Section Two  Full Members of Taunton Division 
Class 32    Two lb jars of light honey
1st      M.North
2nd     D.Pearce
3rd     R & E Burgess
 
Class 33  Two lb jars of medium honey
1st       D.Pearce
2nd      SJ & JA Gammon
3rd      M.North
 
Class 34   Two lb jars of dark honey
1st      D. Pearce
2nd     M.North
3rd     -
 
Class 35   Two lb jars of crystallised honey
1st       R & E Burgess
2nd     A.Pike
3rd      G.Welfare
 
Class 36  Two lb jars of soft set honey
1st       -
2nd     G.Welfare
3rd      -
 
Class 37  Five wax blocks
1st       A.Pike
2nd     SJ & JA Gammon
3 rd      R & E Burgess
 
Class 38  One frame of honey suitable for extracting
1st       R & E Burgess
2nd     -
3rd     -
 
Class 39  One standard container of cut comb
1st       D.Pearce
2nd     M.North
3rd       -

Class 40  One commercial block of wax1st        SJ & JA Gammon
2nd      R & E Burgess
3rd       G.Welfare
 
Class 41  Three lb jars of honey labelled for sale
1st     SJ & JA Gammon
2nd    R & E Burgess
3rd     G.Welfare
 
Class 42   Novice Two rolled candles – no entries
 
Class  43   Special class for schools
1st     Kingston St.Mary and Holway schools both awarded a first
 
 sbk_tbk_taunton_somerset_honey_shows.pdf
 
 
 
 
 

Somerset beekeepers are celebrating a sweet victory at the Royal Bath and West Show when they beat tough competition to take the prestigious Challenge Shield for gaining the most points.

​Talented Westcountry beekeepers competed in 44 classes spanning honey, wax, cookery and photography. Somerset won an unbeatable total and knocked rivals Wiltshire into second place with a margin of just three points.

Double award-winner David Pearce of Bathealton near Taunton impressed the judges and went away with two trophies including one for winning more points than any other Somerset member. 

President of Somerset Beekeepers and Show Steward, Ken Tredgett, said the standard of competition was very high and he was delighted Somerset had won back the shield.

“Regaining the Royal Bath & West Challenge Shield demonstrates the high quality of beekeeping going on in the county. Wiltshire ran us a very close second but some of our exceptional beekeepers ensured victory was ours!”

Somerset Beekeepers’ Association is made up of 12 divisions and works to advance the craft of apiculture within its membership and to promote general awareness and understanding of honeybees. 

​Somerset beekeepers have been given wildflower seeds by Burts Bees to plant new pollinator patches in their apiaries. 
Quantock, Somerton and Taunton divisions of the Somerset Beekeepers’ Association (SBKA) are planting the seeds as part of the #Bringbackthebees campaign to provide more food for honeybees.
Burts Bees, together with the British Beekeepers’ Association, is on a mission to create more pollinator-friendly habitats and has donated enough seeds to grow more than 100 million flowers. 
SBKA Chairman, Anne Pike, said: “I would like to encourage everyone to try and plant their own pollinator patch because together we can make a real difference.
“The wildflower seeds have been specially selected to provide a pollen or nectar rich diet for honeybees.
“I’d like to thank Burts Bees for providing the seeds and to the beekeepers of Quantock, Somerton and Taunton for all their help.”
Pollen is especially important to honeybees when they are at the earliest stage of development and growing their wings because it is their only source of protein.
In common with many other creatures, including people, protein is an essential building block for growth and honeybees will fail to thrive without sufficient protein from pollen in their diet. 
Loss of habitat is believed to be one of the factors behind the decline in numbers of a wide range of pollinating insects including honeybees, bumble bees and butterflies. 
The seed planting campaign is an initiative under the BBKA’s Adopt a Beehive scheme which raises funds for environmental and educational projects.
Somerset Beekeepers’ Association is made up of 12 divisions and works to advance the craft of apiculture within its membership and to promote general awareness and understanding of honeybees.