Bristol Bee and Pollination Festival

We spent the afternoon at the Bristol Bee and Pollination Festival.  This was at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden - not somewhere I've been before, but a fascinating garden.  Lots of bright and exotic flowers, trees and shrubs and several glasshouses with interesting orchids, banana plants etc.

A large marquee housed honey displays, a live exhibition hive and stalls about bumble bees and other pollinators.

The live beekeeping demonstration was held just as the weather was turning cold, but the beekeeper (Garth Chatham) was engaging and entertaining and held the crowd enthralled looking through a small colony in a mesh tent.  Great to see the children so interested in all that was going on in the hive and during the demo.



Many honey bees and other insects in evidence on the flowers around the garden - at least before the rain came....



As to our own bees - they are still happy doing bee things.  I will inspect again shortly to see what's happening with the queen situation. - Watch this space.