The Monmouth Bee Festival, organised by the locally based global charity Bees for Development, was a hive of activity and joy on Saturday afternoon in the charming surroundings of The Nelson Garden, Monmouth.

Still buzzing with their success at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show show where they won a Silver Gilt Medal for its Balcony Garden exhibit and thanks to the generous support of Monmouth Building Society, Monmouth Town Council, and Climate Cymru (GBGW), this year’s event was a truly special gathering of the local community.

The Festival offered the perfect opportunity for Bees for Development to introduce their new CEO, Hannah Wood, to the local community. “It was lovely to meet everyone and come together to celebrate bees, sharing a wonderful afternoon with all ages,” said Hannah.

The event was honoured by a visit from Monmouth’s Deputy Mayor, Rob Barrell, and enjoyed the participation of many local organisations, including Monmouthshire Meadows Group, ACE Monmouth, and Gwent Wildlife Trust. A particularly popular attraction was the Gwent Beekeepers' observation hive, drawing constant interest and sparking conversations about the fascinating lives of bees.

Festival organiser Jenny Handley, who is also Head of Comms & Fundraising for Bees for Development, said: “It’s important to us that we build connections with our own community here in Monmouth. The Monmouth Bee Festival helps us make the topic of bees fun, accessible, and engaging—while underlining their crucial role in supporting biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods.”

The Festival featured a wide range of hands-on, creative activities including Bee Walks, Bee House Making, Skep and Willow Basketry demonstrations, Seed Ball and Badge Making, and Face Painting. Guests also had the opportunity to taste and buy honey from around the world, enjoy locally brewed mead, fresh strawberries, and cakes from Isabel’s Bakehouse, all while relaxing to live music from the ever-popular Flute Gerry.

Bees for Development extends heartfelt thanks to all supporters who helped make the event possible, including Evans of Monmouth, Windmill Hill Fruits, Ottimo Digital and Wye Media.

Jenny Handley added: “As always, community is at the heart of everything we do at Bees for Development. We’re deeply grateful to The Nelson Garden and to everyone who came and shared in this joyful celebration.”

Last month they were honoured with a visit to their RHS Flower Show exhibit by Her Majesty The Queen, President of Bees for Development, and Patron Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and the celebrations continued on Tuesday 20 May, World Bee Day, when they unveiled the award

Their exhibit was designed by Humble-Bee Gardeners and supported by The London Honey Company and EH Thorne Beehives Ltd, the Balcony Garden transformed a small urban space into a vibrant retreat—buzzing with colour, biodiversity, and practical inspiration.

The garden featured traditional English and African beehives, showing sustainable approaches to beekeeping

Bees for Development is an international charity working to alleviate poverty and protect biodiversity through sustainable beekeeping. Their mission is to improve lives and livelihoods by harnessing the power of bees. Learn more at www.beesfordevelopment.org.