POPULAR broadcaster and beekeeper Bill Turnbull officially opened a new Bees for Development outlet to launch Monmouth's first Bee Festival.

Bill, a patron of the Bees for Development Trust, dangled from a window to cut an enormous ribbon at the Trust's offices and shop in Agincourt Street.

He then took a tour around the stalls at the Bee Festival in the Shire Hall opposite and signed copies of his book The Bad Beekeepers Club.

Bill agreed to become a patron of the trust about 10 years ago when he was approached by its founder Dr Nicola Bradbear at a beekeeping convention in Stoneleigh in Warwickshire.

Since then he has also helped to recruit pop star Sting to their cause as a fellow patron.

"You are never quite sure what is gong to happen with bees next. The bees themselves are fascinating, intricate creatures," he said.

"Beekeeping allows you to give something back to nature – it is also very peaceful and quite therapeutic being with the bees, and you also make a lot of friends keeping bees."

His talk was a highlight of the Bee Festival organised by the trust in conjunction with Adventa, part of Monmouthshire's Rural Development Programme.

There was also a talk by Dr Nicola Bradbear, who set up Bees for Development in 1993 to run development projects with vulnerable communities in the poorest parts of the world, helping them to improve their livelihoods through keeping bees and selling honey.

Brigit Strawbridge, a renowned bumblebee expert and lead participant in the TV show, It's Not Easy Being Green, also talked about her experiences.

The Bee Festival was a hive of activity and visitors of all ages had the opportunity to learn how to roll beeswax candles, find out about beekeeping, stock up with the nectar and pollen-rich plants bees are attracted to and buy a whole host of honey-related and bee-themed products.

The event also saw the launch of the Green Book of Gardening in Monmouth­shire 2013.

Once the book has been compiled, with entries collected at the Bee Festival and at other events around the county, it will be launched at an official launch event at the Bridges Centre on Friday September 28, where there will be guest speakers, light refreshments, talks, demonstrations and workshops. This will be followed by a taster day on Sunday September 30, where a number of gardens in the immediate vicinity of Monmouth town will be open to view.

For more information about Bees for Development visit the website http://www.beesfordevelopment.org">www.beesfordevelopment.org or telephone 01600 714848.