A collection of photographs from our 2019 honey festival

A huge thank you to our SPONSORS for the 2019 honey festival

we would also like to thank:

Arboretum Kilcoole

Walled garden Wicklow

Annual Honey Festival 2019

Saturday September 21st

11 am to 4 pm

Ashford Heritage Centre, Ashford, Co. wicklow

Honey festival location

Eircode A67 DH34

 

All things honey, bees, wildflowers and family fun!

If you want to learn more about our native Irish honey bee and what flowers and plants they love best, then come to our 3rd Annual Ashford Honey Festival on Saturday 21st September 2019.   The Heritage centre and its surrounding grounds are transformed into a hive of activity by the members of the Ashford & District Beekeepers Association who will share their knowledge of bees and pollination while you enjoy a fun filled family day out.
In the Beekeepers Hut, watch the bees close at hand with our observational hives, see a skep (traditional bee hive made of twisted straw) being made and talk to the beekeepers.  And if you are not inclined to become a beekeeper yourself, but would like to learn more about the plants and flowers that will attract them in your garden,  Eanna Ni Lamhna, biologist extraordinaire is our guest speaker and sure to fascinate with her knowledge of the wild nature that surrounds us.
Taste and stock up for the winter with high quality pure local Irish honey.  Browse the lovely organic stalls with homemade cakes, produce, plants and bee friendly products to buy.  There will be a choice of hot food and refreshments for all tastes.  There are raffle prizes galore and entertainment to keep the kids happy while you browse, including face-painting, a quiz and some improvised play- acting which will include the story of bees!

Guest speaker Éanna Ní Lamhna

Honey Festival 2019

Éanna will speak about the importance of pollinating insects for biodiversity, how bee keepers are vital for the survival of the native Irish bee colonies, which have been destroyed in the wild by the varroa mite.  She will also talk about how climate change is having an impact on our flora and fauna and why planting for pollinators was never more important.


A taste of Honey

 

Can you taste the difference between single flower, heather, or multiflower honey?  Test your palate at our Honey Festival on September 21st in Ashford Heritage Centre and bring home a jar or two of your favourite! Meet the beekeepers who have harvested their local honey and are on hand to discuss all things bees with you.. 


Face painting and storytelling for our young visitors

 

Kids are fascinated by the story of bees and will love the observational hives where they can see the bees at work - spotting the Queen bee usually yields squeals of delight!  Our face painters will be there on hand to keep the excitement going and fun, interactive story telling for the little ones means there will be plenty of  busy kids at the Honey Festival.

A treasure trove of raffle prizes 

Honey festival raffle prizes include - yes, honey! bee products, lovely organic creams and potions, Jewelry, gift vouchers, and of course some cracking bottles of Whiskey, Wine and Gin.  There are prizes galore - just another fun event at the Festival.

A world Without bees?

Judging has just commenced by poet Rosy Wilson for the entrants - more than 160! -  to our Honey Festival poetry competition. The title of the poem for 5th and 6th classes is A World Without Bees and Rosy is sure to find her reading of each and every one most enjoyable!  Entrants to the painting and coloring competition with Bees as the them are in their hundreds - we are thrilled that our young community is so enthusiastic in getting involved! Winners of both competitions will be announced at the Festival at 3.00 p.m.

So come along on the 21st of September 2019 and discover the fascinating  world of bees