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Bees & Honey

Event Date
13th Aug to 14th Aug 2025

Honey

All jars to be 454g/1lb squat glass jars secured against leakage with plain lacquered metal lids (except class 6). Chromium plated or coloured tops are not allowed and will disqualify the exhibit. BS grading glasses as approved by the National Honey Show will be used to determine the colour of the honey.
Bees & Honey Marquee
Class: 1 Two 454g jars of light clear runny honey
Price: £0.50
Class: 2 Two 454g jars of medium clear runny honey
Price: £0.50
Class: 3 Two 454g jars of naturally granulated honey
Price: £0.50
Class: 4 Two 454g jars of creamed honey
Price: £0.50
Class: 5 Two 454g jars of chunk honey
Price: £0.50
Class: 6 Three jars of honey with labels as for sale, any size
Price: £0.50
Class: 7 Two Cartons of cut comb displayed in crystal comb containers minimum gross weight 227g
Price: £0.50
Class: 8 One section comb honey, can be square or round
Price: £0.50
Class: 9 One shallow frame of honey suitable for extraction in a bee proof showcase
Price: £0.50

Wax

Wax should be the product of the exhibitor’s own hives (except class 15). All candles to be displayed erect in an appropriate size holder but be removeable from the holder by the judge for inspection.
Bees & Honey Marquee
Class: 10 One piece of beeswax not less than 454g to be cast in a plain mould, no colouring permitted
Price: £0.50
Class: 11 Five wax blocks all to be the same colour and style (27-29g each) no colouring permitted
Price: £0.50
Class: 12 An item of decorative beeswax
Description:

for example, a display of wax flowers, sculpture, picture, decorative mould, not more than 300g

Price: £0.50
Class: 13 Two plain moulded beeswax candles one to be lit by the judge, no colouring permitted
Price: £0.50
Class: 14 Two patterned beeswax candles (not rolled) one to be lit by the judge
Price: £0.50
Class: 15 Two decorated beeswax candles to be made by rolling, colouring permitted
Description:

Matching in all respects, one to be lit by the judge (no flammable decoration other than beeswax).

Price: £0.50

Meads

Must be shown in a punted clear glass wine bottle with shoulders not sloping sides of approx. 75cl capacity with white plastic topped flanged corks. No alcohol may be added.
Bees & Honey Marquee
Class: 16.1 One bottle of sweet mead
Price: £0.50
Class: 16.2 One bottle of dry mead
Price: £0.50
Class: 17 One bottle of melomel or metheglin
Description:

To be labelled with the main flavour and exhibitor number, but with no other identifying marks

Price: £0.50

Confectionery

Bees & Honey Marquee
Class: 18 Five identical pecan (or walnut) and honey bars. Recipe given
Description:

Ingredients:
225g plain flour
Pinch of salt
115g granulated sugar
225g butter
1 egg finely grated rind of a lemon
For the topping:
175g butter
50ml clear honey
4 tbsp granulated sugar
175g dark brown sugar
75ml whipping cream
450g pecan or walnuts
Method: Lightly grease 35x28 Swiss roll tin. Sift salt and flour into a bowl. Stir in the sugar and rub in the butter until you have fine breadcrumbs. Blend in the egg and lemon rind. Press the mixture into the prepared tin and prick with a fork. Chill for 10 mins. Pre heat the oven to 190C [170C fan] gas 5. Bake pastry for 15 mins and remove from the oven.
Heat the butter and sugars until melted and bring to the boil without stirring for 2 mins. Remove from the heat and stir in the cream and nuts. Pour over the base, return to the oven and bake for 25 mins. Cool in the tin. Exhibit 5 squares on a white paper plate covered with a plastic bag. Cooking time and temperature may vary to suit the type of oven used it is therefore a good idea to have a trial run before the competition day.

Price: £0.50
Class: 19 Honey Gingerbread. Recipe given
Description:

Ingredients:
113g (4oz) margarine or butter
227g (8oz) honey
5 fl. oz (1/4 pint) milk
2 eggs (beaten)
142g (5oz) plain flour
85g (3oz) wholemeal flour
57g (2oz) sugar
1 rounded teaspoon mixed spice
2 level teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
2 level teaspoons ground ginger
Method: Warm the margarine or butter in a large saucepan with the honey. Add the milk and allow the mixture to cool. Add the beaten eggs to the cooled mixture. Sieve dry ingredients together into a bowl, add the cooled liquid mixture to the dry ingredients and blend in with a tablespoon. Turn into a greased and lined 7 inch square cake tin. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven at 150C (130C fan) for 75 to 90 minutes. Display the cake on a white paper plate and cover with a clear plastic bag. Cooking time and temperature may vary to suit the type of oven used it is therefore a good idea to have a trial run before the competition day.

Price: £0.50
Class: 20 Honey sweets and/or chocolates 450g-500g box (gross weight).
Description:

Displayed in a box with a transparent lid or covering. Exhibitors’ own choice of recipe. List of ingredients to be submitted

Price: £0.50

Photographic & Craft

Bees & Honey Marquee
Class: 21 Photograph of bees, hives or honey production 15cm x 10cm mounted on card.
Description:

Title of photograph to be affixed centrally below the image and entry label to be adhered to the front top right corner of the mount. Photograph to have been taken by the exhibitor.

Price: £0.50
Class: 22 Three to five postcard sized themed photographs
Description:

pertaining to beekeeping up to A3 size including mount. Title of photographs to be affixed centrally below the images, and entry label to be adhered to the front top right corner of the mount. Photographs to have been taken by the exhibitor.

Price: £0.50
Class: 23 Artistic item related to beekeeping
Description:

for example painting, embroidery, sculpture, carving.

Price: £0.50
Class: 24 Limerick on beekeepers and beekeeping.
Description:

As per the national honey show, these are to be submitted as a hard copy and may contain original artwork. Entries will be judged on rhyme meter, humour, artwork and relevance to beekeeping.

Price: £0.50
Class: 25 A display of 5 different hive products
Description:

not including any of the classes above for example these could be polish, wax wraps, honey preserves, honey vinegars, cosmetics. All items to be labelled for information as to what they are, but, without any identifying marks other than the exhibitor’s show number.

Price: £0.50

Newcomer Classes

Open to First Time Exhibitors to the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show
Bees & Honey Marquee
Class: 26 One 454g/1lb squat glass jar of honey, any type
Description:

Jars are to be secured against leakage with plain lacquered metal lids.

Price: £0.50
Class: 27 Composite Class
Description:

any two of the following items:
 One 454g jar of run honey
 One 454g jar of set honey
 One frame of honey suitable for extracting
 Four beeswax blocks (27-29g each) all to be the same colour
 One beeswax candle

Price: £0.50
Class: 28 One beeswax candle made by any method (not rolled), to be lit by the judge
Description:

To be displayed erect in appropriate size holder.

Price: £0.50
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    Event Summary
    • Location
      Show Office, Turnpike Showground,
      Motcombe,
      Shaftesbury,
      Dorset,
      Dorset,
      SP7 9PL
    • Entry Fee
      £0.50
    • Date
      Wed 13 August 2025 8:30am to
      Thu 14 August 2025 6pm
    • Entries Close
      Thu 31 July 2025 11:59pm
    • Email
      compete@gillinghamandshaftesburyshow.co.uk
    • Phone
      01747823955

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