Devon County Show
West Point, Exeter.
15th. 16th. 17th. May 2008

Visit our marquee, situated near the Green Entrance Gate of the showground.

The DBKA presentation covers all aspects of beekeeping with many interesting and exciting features, many of which the public can participate in. There are several observation hives that allow one to safely observe honeybees going about their business of building and storing honey on the comb, and there is always an experienced beekeeper nearby to explain what the bees are doing, and answer your questions.

There is an opportunity to make your own beeswax candle from a selection of specially coloured sheets of pure beeswax. Demonstration and guidance will enable you to make a perfect candle, which can be lit, or simply kept as a decorative reminder of your visit.

You can sample a taste of honey on a scone with a generous portion of Devon Cream, while close by there is the ‘Honey Sales’ stall, where you may purchase a jar of this wonderful natural food to take home.
Adams of Exeter, compliment the marquee with a very colourful show of beekeeping equipment and associated merchandise, while Dr. Michael Street provides a stall with a variety of honeybee books for all ages, and other interesting items related to our craft.

Competition exhibits include a variety of hand made beeswax models, candles, and beeswax samples, exhibits of honeys and mead, and samples of home made confectionary cooked with honey (of course).

There are many other stalls of great interest and information related to the honeybee; its lifestyle and products. Should a stall be unattended, there will be many beekeeper Stewards around the marquee who will be pleased to answer any queries you may have. They are easily recognised wearing a white coat.

Demonstrations of handling live honeybees will take place at the rear of the marquee at advertised times, when a beekeeper will open up a hive allowing you to see inside. The beekeeper will give a commentary on what he is doing and what he sees, he will often take out combs covered with bees and bring them to you for closer viewing, but you will be kept safe on the other side of a mist net, so there’s no fear of you being stung!

If you would like to get the ‘feel’ of handling bees, we can provide protective clothing for you to put on and enter the live bee enclosure in safety, and you may assist the beekeeper as he manipulates the hive. This is a great experience and you will receive a certificate of recognition that you ably assisted the beekeeper.

Among the many exhibits, you will see work done by school children ranging from Pre School, KS1, and KS2 & KS3.
Enjoy the artwork in the children’s corner, and spend a few moments to watch the TV monitor showing the BBC’s recording of primary school children managing there own beehives at a Devon school. It is fascinating to observe these 10-year-old children handling bees with confidence and expounding their knowledge of the honeybee and its lifestyle.

Photographs: T. Clarke