For the first time this year’s Somerset Honey Show will be held at Long Sutton Village Hall near Langport on Saturday, September 20.

The historic show, which dates back to 1885, will attract beekeepers from all over the county competing in 52 classes for the best honey, hive products and honey cookery.

Joe King, Honey Show Secretary, said the county association’s Somerton Division was looking forwarding to hosting the county competitions.

“It will be a great honour to welcome beekeepers from all over Somerset to a celebration of bees and beekeeping, with friendly competition between new and experienced beekeepers alike.”

More than 800 members from 12 divisions are eligible to enter the show where impressive cups and trophies are up for grabs.

The most anticipated award is the coveted Jubilee Cup when the king or queen bee of 2014 will be presented with a trophy in honour of being Somerset’s most accomplished beekeeper.

Visitors can look forward to tasting various local honeys, watching bees in action inside an observation hive, seeing the equipment used in this ancient craft and talking to local beekeepers about keeping bees and growing bee-friendly gardens.

Joe added: “Bees are remarkable and resilient creatures. After 40 years of beekeeping they still fascinate me as much as when I began. This year, it is marvellous to have a season that we can celebrate.”

Alongside the show, which starts at 1pm, there will be a bee-themed farmers’ market staged outside the village hall with refreshments available throughout the afternoon.

The county, which is famous for both its flower blossom and moorland heather honey, boasts more than 800 of the 20,000 beekeepers across the UK.

Joe ended: "Beekeeping is becoming more and more popular and our 12 divisions run educational programmes for beginners and the more experienced."

For the past 25 years the county honey show has been held at Taunton Flower Show where it flourished under former Honey Show Secretary Neil Trood and a small band of helpers.

David Charles, author of ‘Somerset Beekeepers and Beekeeping Associations; A History 1875-2005’, said changing the venue takes the show back to its roots when it regularly moved around the county.

The show is on from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday, September 20, 2014 in Long Sutton Village Hall near Langport. Admission is free For more information visit www.somersetbeekeepers.org.uk