The County Honey Show held at Taunton Flower Show attracted a record number of entries and hosted the Asian hornet roadshow for the first time.
Beekeepers from as far afield as Cornwall competed in classes for the best honeys, wax and other products from or inspired by beekeeping.
Somerset Beekeepers’ Association Chairman Anne Pike said it was a standout show: “Entries were the highest they’ve been for years and visitors to the Bees and Honey feature were treated with the sight of many hundreds of jars of honey, honeycombs straight from the hive and beautiful artwork.
“It is wonderful to see more people get involved in these competitions which showcase the beauty of local honey and wax and their skills as beekeepers.”
The Blue Ribbon for the best exhibit in the show went to John Roberts from Falmouth for a magnificent cake of beeswax.
Local trophy winners included Jenny and Sid Gammon from Taunton; Maggie North, Buckland St Mary; David Pearce, Bathealton near Wiveliscombe; Mary Adams, Bishops Lydeard; Alan Nelson, Bilbrook; and Rob Fox, Minehead.
Thousands of visitors to the two-day show held at Vivary Park pledged to look out for Asian hornets to protect honeybees and other pollinators. Beekeepers explained how to identify the hornets, which are sweeping across parts of Europe, including the Channel Islands, and causing the loss of many millions of bees and insects.
Master Beekeeper Lynne Ingram, who leads the county’s Asian Hornet Action Team, said: “The greatest resource we have in fighting the Asian (yellow legged) hornet are members of the public. We hope the banners, leaflets and pinned specimens will help visitors to be aware of an insect which could wreak havoc on our environment if it gets a foothold in this country.”
Results – Taunton Awards:
The Taunton Perpetual Challenge Trophy: SJ & JA Gammon
The Priscott Perpetual Skep: M. North
The Stoker Perpetual Silver Trophy: SJ & JA Gammon
The Pat Barter Silver Trophy:  J. Roberts
The W .Elmsall Perpetual Observation Hive Trophy: Taunton and District Beekeepers
The Andy Coles Memorial Trophy for Mead: M. Adams
The Tom Tucker Trophy for Cookery: R. Fox
The Downes Perpetual Cup: R.Fox
The Gammon Perpetual Trophy: B. Muckett
The Taunton Honey Show plate: D. Pearce
The Taunton Honey Show Perpetual Trophy: D. Pearce
The Sally Bennett Trophy: M. North
The John Spiller Mascot: D. Pearce
County Cups:
Jubilee Cup: J. Roberts
Miss M.D Bindley Cup: A. Nelson
Terry Arnold Perpetual Challenge Trophy: R. Fox
The Duffin Challenge Trophy:  J. Roberts
The Clifford Langford Award for Mead:   M. Adams
The Blue Ribbon for the best exhibit in Show in the judges’ opinion: J. Roberts
 
To find out more visit Somerset Beekeepers’ website: www.somersetbeekeepers.org.uk
Ends
Photo caps: John Roberts from Falmouth won the Blue Ribbon for the best exhibit in the show; Jenny Gammon from Taunton was awarded two trophies.
For further information contact:
Anne Pike, Chairman of Somerset Beekeepers’ Association, tel: 07971 275840;
Lynne Ingram, Co-ordinator of Somerset’s Asian Hornet Action Team, tel: 07846 165877
Notes to editors:
Somerset Beekeepers’ Association is a Registered Charity run by volunteers and works to advance the craft of apiculture within its membership and to promote general awareness and understanding of honeybees.
The County Honey Show is open to all full members of SBKA and county associations in the UK.
Asian hornets (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) are slightly smaller than native European hornets and look like large black wasps with orange face and yellow legs:

• An Asian hornet queen is up to 30mm long; workers are up to 25mm long.
• Asian hornets are dark brown or black with a velvety body and the abdomen is almost entirely black except for a yellow fourth abdominal segment. Legs are brown with yellow ends.

The Asian hornet is active mainly between April and November (peak August/September) and is inactive over the winter.
A single Asian hornet can kill 50 bees a day, with a nest containing up to 6,000 workers and up to 350 queens.
In Jersey, France and large areas of Western Europe they are stripping the environment bare of insects before moving on to prey on managed honeybee colonies.
Asian hornets are a notifiable invasive species and should be reported immediately with photo using:
Asian Hornet Watch app
[email protected]
[email protected]
 
 
 
 
 
 

​Somerset Beekeepers’ Association is calling on visitors to the Royal Bath & West Show, which starts tomorrow (May 30) at Shepton Mallet, to be on the alert for a major threat to the UK’s pollinators.
For the first time they are running an interactive exhibit about the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) in the Show’s popular Bees & Honey Feature.
Association chairman Anne Pike said: “We want gardeners, farmers, walkers and all countryside-lovers, as well as beekeepers, to be on high alert for the imminent arrival of Asian hornets.
“These hornets look like black wasps with yellow tipped legs and are as devastating to pollinators as foot and mouth disease was to livestock.
“In France, where Asian hornets arrived in 2004, honey production is down by 50 per cent reflecting the impact these non-native and highly invasive insects are having on honeybee numbers.”
Members of the newly-formed Asian Hornet Action Team will be on hand to talk to visitors about the hornet and explain how to correctly identify them. In addition to large information banners, there will be glass cases displaying Asian hornets next to European hornets and honeybees, identification leaflets to take away and children’s colouring-in sheets.
Master Beekeeper Lynne Ingram, who heads up the Action Team, added “The greatest resource we have in fighting the Asian (yellow legged) hornet are members of the public. They are our eyes. Come into the tent and find out what an Asian hornet looks like. This time of year, look out for tiny embryo nests in sheds or garages. If you wait you will see the queen returning to feed her larvae. In June the workers will emerge and you may find them drinking nectar on flowers. If you see one, take a photo and report it on the Asian Hornet Watch app or contact [email protected] for further advice.”
In addition, Somerset Beekeepers will be demonstrating the invaluable role honeybees play in the pollination of the nation’s best-loved food crops including apples and strawberries.
Somerset members, together with beekeepers from Avon and Wiltshire, will be taking part in a highly competitive honey show, will run candle rolling for children, offer free honey tasting and advice about all aspects of beekeeping. In addition, visitors will have plenty of opportunities to see honeybees at work in observation hives, where bees are behind glass, and in the outdoor bee garden where beekeepers will demonstrate behind protective netting.
To find out more visit Somerset Beekeepers’ website: https://www.somersetbeekeepers.org.uk/
Ends
 
For further information contact:
Anne Pike, Chairman of Somerset Beekeepers’ Association, tel: 07971 275840;
Lynne Ingram, Co-ordinator of Somerset’s Asian Hornet Action Team, tel: 07846 165877
Notes to editors:
Somerset Beekeepers’ Association is a Registered Charity run by volunteers and works to advance the craft of apiculture within its membership and to promote general awareness and understanding of honeybees.
Asian hornets (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) are slightly smaller than native European hornets and look like large black wasps with orange face and yellow legs:

• An Asian hornet queen is up to 30mm long; workers are up to 25mm long.
• Asian hornets are dark brown or black with a velvety body and the abdomen is almost entirely black except for a yellow fourth abdominal segment. Legs are brown with yellow ends.

The Asian hornet is active mainly between April and November (peak August/September) and is inactive over the winter.
A single Asian hornet can kill 50 bees a day, with a nest containing up to 6,000 workers and up to 350 queens.
In Jersey, France and large areas of Western Europe they are stripping the environment bare of insects before moving on to prey on managed honeybee colonies.
Asian hornets are a notifiable invasive species and should be reported immediately with photo using:
Asian Hornet Watch app
[email protected]
[email protected]
 
 

​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, [email protected] 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.