PICTURES: Buzz in the air as Inverness-shire Beekeepers Association hold annual show at Simpsons Garden Centre
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There’ was a buzz in the air in the Highland capital when local beekeepers showcased the sweet delights of their flying friends’ work.
The Inverness-shire Beekeepers Association recently displayed honey from the Knocknagael apiary at Simpsons Garden Centre at their annual event.
Visitors could learn about the process from experts who look after the nectar-loving insects and their honeycomb.
Different honeys were on display as well as showing off some of the equipment used by the organisation.
Judging of different categories of honey also took place during the fun-filled event as well as prizes for imaginative uses of the product such as for beeswax blocks, candles, sweet tablet and mead.
This year there were more than 30 judging categories and more than 110 exhibits.
The event aims to raise awareness of the organisation and its work. The group also seeks to educate members of the public about the craft.
Association secretary Barbara Sandbach said: "For the Honey Show - the challenge is not only to produce a top quality product, but to display it in the best way.
"The judge gives us feedback which can include comments about cloudy honey - different types of honey have quite specific characteristics- or beeswax that isn't clean enough.
"Sometimes the competition is strong enough that paired jars of honey need to be distinguished by whether the lids are clean and that the jars themselves have matching numbers on the base.
"In this way, beekeepers are encouraged to provide the best quality to the public who may purchase their honey."
She added: "We always allow members to sell both honey and hive products at the show, and the public can be amazed at the range of different honeys available - different blossom, comb, or heather honeys from locations all around Inverness.
"Scotland's heather honey is famous and we can get spoilt by having it readily available to us. The honey sold is always pure honey straight from the hive."
The group's website has more information for anyone interested.
Barbara can be reached directly at: secretary:inverness-shirebeekeepers.org
