Monmouth will be celebrating its bee-friendliness by holding a festival which stretches around the whole town.
This weekend (July 31-August 1), which is being opened by Kate Humble, centres on the Chippenham Playing Fields (Millennium Fields) and The Nelson Garden where a number of local businesses and organisations will have stalls, all themed on the wonderful world of bees.
Whilst the event’s focal point is on the playing fields and Nelson Garden, the whole town is celebrating the value of bees.
On Saturday July 31, bee-friendly gardens throughout Monmouth will be open for viewing. The Bees for Development shop in Agincourt Street will provide maps of the route.
Monmouth Bee Festival, now in its fourth year will host a wide range of entertainments, activities, displays on environmental issues—run by local groups, and food and refreshment stalls.
Over 30 stallholders will be there with honey, books, mead, food, drink, arts, crafts and more on offer.
Set in the open spaces of The Nelson Garden and Chippenham Fields with ample open-air space for social distancing, this hopes to be a entertaining and educational event for families. Visitors can learn about bees, the environment, enjoy street theatre and get involved in activities and art designed for children and families.
Entry is free, with activities on Sunday August 1 kicking off at 10am.
Other activities booked so far include: bee and wildflower themed arts and crafts, interactive beehive display, bee friendly plant stalls, honey tasting, beekeeping presentations and skep making.
The festival now celebrates Monmouth’s status as a Bee Town and continues to work with local environmentally active groups.
It acknowledges the work and passion of beekeepers and contributors to the ongoing conservation of bee habitats and—most importantly—engages the public in the work of Bees for Development.
This is all done with help from supporters and donors whose contributions help to lift some of the poorest people in the world out of poverty and offers them a future with hope.
Their projects address issues of habitat, planting trees and regenerating areas decimated by high impact agriculture.
The festival will also raise awareness of work being done in Uganda which—due to recent cuts in the UK government and charity funding for overseas aid—is facing a critical moment.
Bees for Development are supporting people with disabilities to access specially adapted training, advice and mentoring so they too can have an equal opportunity to benefit from beekeeping in
Uganda.
Further information on this weekend’s bee festival—including bus routes and parking information—can be found on the event website beefestival.beesfordevelopment.org.