Shows

The Countess Of Warwick Show.
Little Easton

Michelle and Lizzie busy on the honey stall.

The Countess of Warwick Show was even busier than previously this year! A lot of visitors made the journey despite the very long traffic queues, 50 minutes from Dunmow Tesco must be some sort of record. It was a fantastic mix of alpacas, dogs, horses, marching bands, classic cars, beer, burgers, Saffron Walden ice cream and lots more!

The observation hive was as popular as ever, all the usual questions plus a few we didn’t expect, I’m sure. Wonderful to see so many children interested in the bees and getting engaged with nature. I won’t dwell on the child who whacked the glass with something, don’t know what it was but it gave Barbara and I quite a fright! We were both looking for the nearest exit just in case the bees escaped.

Our honey (and other bee products) stall was also very busy. People really do seem to like local honey - good for us and our bees. We had some competition this year, a beekeeper from Cambridge had a stall also selling bee products. I was asked to go “under cover” to check them out (bit tricky wearing a bee lanyard with SWBKA name badge and a pink bee t-shirt). They were selling “Ivy Honey” at £13 per lb jar and “Chunk honey” at £15! If we could get those prices, we’d all be running around in new Bee Vans! I did hear a couple leaving the stand commenting that they weren’t buying at those prices. A lesson to us all, check the marketplace and see what is reasonable before you start trying to sell. I did like their branding though, very clear, colourful, and very engaging - worth a thought when designing our labels.

If you haven’t done stand duty at COWS please give it a go next year, it’s a great opportunity to talk to visitors about our wonderful honeybees. It’s a lovely local event. See you there next year!



Lizzie Beard 31/8/2023

The observation hive, visitors very interested as always