There’s a swarm of excitement coming to Tocal this weekend.
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A buzz of beekeepers will converge on Tocal College on Saturday to indulge in all things beekeeping – from hives and pest control to medicinal honey and biosecurity tips.
It’s the Hunter Valley Amateur Beekeepers’ Association’s Tocal Beekeepers' Field Day – the region’s biggest gathering of bee enthusiasts. Some will travel from across the country to be part of the atmosphere.
“Bees are a pretty cool part of our existence,” association member Sam Giggins said. “There’s more and more people getting interested in the bees whether it be at a commercial level or in the backyard.
“The beekeeping industry is growing in NSW – the amount of hives that people are getting, due to the flow hive invention and general interest, is great to see. Some people are doing it in their backyards to help pollinate their plants and vegetables.”
Mr Giggins has been involved with bees since he was a child and now owns the popular Williams River Honey brand.
He said the annual event, which kicks off at 9am and finishes at 4pm, had something for everyone.
There will be a variety of bee-themed stalls as well as equipment on show.
Guest speakers will educate the crowd about a range of topics including honey bee pollination, biosecurity, medicinal honey and beekeeping courses.
The association is always looking for new members. It meets on the fourth Sunday of the month, except in July and December, at the Botanical Gardens in Heatherbrae.