OVER 120 beekeepers from across the region came to Holsworthy Memorial Hall recently, to listen to experts from the beekeeping world.

The annual ‘Spring Convention’, organised by Holsworthy Beekeepers, featured a workshop on how to set up monitoring traps for the Asian hornet.

Linda Davis, event organiser, said: “In 2004 an Asian hornet queen was accidentally imported into France and the insect has now spread across France and Spain.

“The hornet preys on honeybees and has been found to alter the biodiversity in the regions where it has become established.

“So far it has not reached us, and so English beekeepers are setting up monitoring stations throughout the area to make sure that we know as soon as possible if any find their way across the channel.”

As well as the hornet trap workshop the delegates were fascinated by the pictures of the internal and external structures of the honeybee, taken by Graham Royle with his dissection microscope.

Nicola Bradbear spoke of the work of her charity, ‘Bees for Development’, which uses beekeeping to help alleviate poverty in the developing world. Other workshops provided very practical advice on queen rearing and chemical-free beekeeping.

Linda said: “Beekeepers came from across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. There were some who have kept bees for over 40 years proving that there is always something new to find out about honeybees.”

By contrast, some of those attending the convention were just starting out on their beekeeping career and will be attending the beginner course run by Holsworthy Beekeepers, which starts on Wednesday, March 1, at 7pm in Chilsworthy Methodist Hall.

Anyone interested in keeping honeybees and finding out more information about the Holsworthy Beekeepers branch can attend the course or visit www.holsworthybeekeepers.org.uk