On Sunday 18 May, members of the Wakefield and Pontefract Beekeepers Association joined the celebrations for World Bee Day at Thornes Park. The event was once again organised by the local charity Mindful Movers, who have recently taken on a neighbouring plot close to our own apiary site in the park.
The day brought together a range of community groups and organisations based at Thornes Park, and it proved to be another fantastic opportunity to share our love of beekeeping with the public. Visitors were able to enjoy the observation hive, honey tasting, and honey sales, while members also promoted Asian hornet awareness – an increasingly important topic for beekeepers and the public alike.
Although our new association gazebo didn’t arrive in time for the event, Mel kindly stepped in and provided one for the day – a huge thank you for saving the situation!
We’d also like to express our appreciation to everyone who gave their time and enthusiasm to make the day a success: Graham Browster, Carole Shaw, Julie Oxley, Richard Thompson, Mel Hallas, Philip Watson, and Andrew Bloodworth.
Between members’ honey and association honey sales, the total takings reached £334.00. After £25.00 commission and £84.00 raised from 14 jars of association honey, £109.00 was added to association funds.
It was a warm, lively, and rewarding day – a wonderful way to celebrate World Bee Day and raise awareness of the vital role bees play in our environment.