By Jessica Micallef
There’s a buzz around Diggers Rest as it prepares for a swarm to next month’s Honey Festival.
Run by the J Beekeeping School in Diggers Rest, the festival brings more than 500 people together to discover the world of bees, honey and the importance of these tiny insects on the environment.
Carl Hornstrand from the school said it was the biggest event the school runs each year, and was always a fun family day out.
“It’s something we’ve done every year since the club started,” Mr Hornstrand said.
“It’s about teaching young and old beekeepers how to keep bees, and why they’re so important to Mother Nature.
“We have food trucks, kids activities, and all sorts of things to keep people busy on the day.
“We have a program where we show people how to extract honey from a hive, and lots of live exhibits for people to enjoy.”
One of the highlights every year is the bee beard competition during which experts coax a swarm of bees onto their face to give a stunning visual, Mr Hornstrand said.
“The whole bee hive circles around the queen bee, so our experts capture the queen in a small canister
around their neck.
“People are also becoming more aware of how important bees are to the natural environment, so we aim to educate as well as entertain on the day.”
The festival will be held at 35 Duncans Lane, Diggers Rest from 10am to 4pm on March 1.
By Ewen McRae
