BEE-LIEVE - MARCH 21 - 11.07am
Standing-up for bees
On such a beautiful bright March morning, it seemed only right and proper to attend the talk on bees by Sarah Wyndham Lewis who, despite being labelled as a ‘beekeeper and gardener’ in the festival brochure, was keen to point out straightaway that she is in fact neither. Which frankly was a tad worrying. However, soon all became clear: back in 2007, together with her husband Dale Gibson, they co-founded ‘Bermondsey Street Bees’, a beekeeping and sustainability consulting business that went on to win the Small Artisan Producer of the Year prize at the 2016 Great Taste Awards (as well as the ‘Best Honey in London’ award at both the 2011 and 2017 National Honey Shows). So, as it happens, she clearly does know a thing or two about our pollen-dusted friends (despite being allergic to their stings). A journalist by trade, Wyndham Lewis nicely juggled a presentation that was both hugely informative and unashamedly passionate, and I challenge anyone to exit a talk on bees and not feel intrinsically better (hell, I’m still grinning now).
Festival media partner
Supported by the Delegation of the European Union to the UK
Supporter of the festival's Voices of Europe programme
International radio partner
Supporter of programme of science and medicine and annual science and innovation award
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The Spanish Embassy: supporters of the programme of Spanish literature and culture
The Cervantes Institute, London
The Italian Embassy: supporter of the programme of Italian literature and culture
Festival London hotel partner
Festival literary heritage partner
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Festival hotel
Five-star hotel partners of The Oxford Collection
Five-star hotel partners of The Oxford Collection
Patron donor for the programme of Irish literature and culture
CEO of Project People
Supporters of the programme of American literature and culture
Exeter College: college home of the festival. Founded 1314
New College founded 1379
Worcester College founded 1714
Lincoln College founded 1427
St Cross College founded 1965
Trinity College founded 1555
Magdalen College founded 1458
Accountants to the festival
Wines of the Douro Valley
Prestige publishing partner. Celebrating 25 years in Europe in 2024
Sponsor of the EBRD Literature Prize since 2018
Georgia's leading lifestyle hotel brand since 2012. Supporters of the programme of Georgian literature and culture
Partner of Oxford Literary Festival
Oxford International Centre for Publishing
Festival academic partner
Olive oil from Sicily
Local radio partner
Festival Digital Strategy & Web Design
Alumni Office
Oxford University Images
Supporter of the programme of Georgian literature and culture
Corporate communications
K T Bruce Photography
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