A new ecofestival celebrating bees and the vital role pollinators play in Purbeck was so successful that it is now set to become an annual event at the Victorian garden near Wareham in Dorset.
Careys Secret Garden held its inaugural BuzzFest event on Saturday 16th August 2025, and saw tickets nearly sell out.
Michael Horton, Careys’ resident beekeeper, co-hosted BuzzFest and was delighted by its success
A chance to step inside the hive
On a warm, sunny day, when Purbeck beaches were the main attraction, organisers said they were very pleased by the number of visitors who came to enjoy a vibrant mix of live music, hands on experiences, workshops, and expert talks.
Sandford based Horty’s Honey gave guests the chance to step inside the hive and see what bees get up to, while Dorset singer songwriter Atticus the Ocean was festival musician for the day, playing the music he writes which draws inspiration from the sea,
BuzzFest focussed on the challenges facing pollinators, with sessions on habitat loss, invasive species, and the dangers of chemical use.
Talks covered everything from how bees use scent to communicate, to the role of honey in cosmetics, and the importance of moths and butterflies in pollination.
Bees are facing an increasing number of threats to their survival
“I was inundated with questions”
Michael Horton of Horty’s Honey, who co-hosted BuzzFest and is Careys’ resident beekeeper, said:
“It was so nice to see so many people buzzing with excitement, adults and kids alike. We had more than 50 guests who suited up to see inside a real hive, and I was inundated with questions, like why does honey crystallise, how does a bee turn nectar into honey, and why do bees do what they do?
“It was also great to see children pretending to be beekeepers and exploring the demonstration hive with miniature smokers and frames of pretend bees. The festival was a great idea by Careys Secret Garden and I look forward to being involved at future events.
“Britain’s bees are in all sorts of trouble – 35 UK bee species are under threat of extinction, and all species face serious threats.
“The biggest single cause of bee decline is the intensification of farming, made worse by the increased use of pesticides, which is having a devastating impact on wild bees.
“We need to pay attention to the problem – any further decline in the diversity and abundance of bees would have a serious impact on how the natural world functions, including the pollination of our crops.”
BeeHold, the festival’s art exhibition, was buzzing with bee inspired craft
Big appetite for looking after bees
Away from the Secret Garden hives, local crafters showcased their work, an art exhibition displayed bee inspired creations, and the garden’s new outdoor kitchen sold out of wood-fired pizzas – topped, fittingly, with chilli infused hot honey.
Emma Shaw, garden experience manager at Careys Secret Garden, said:
“BuzzFest was all about celebrating pollinators and inspiring people to connect with nature, and this year’s event – hopefully the first of many – really captured that spirit.
“We’re so grateful to everyone who attended, supported the event, gave talks, or ran a stall. It was fascinating to find out how bees find their favourite flowers and learn about the world of bee scent detection.
“We discovered how bees use their extraordinary sense of smell to navigate, communicate, and keep our ecosystems thriving, and the children were enthralled – this is science that really sticks.
“We already run occasional bee keeping experiences for adults at Careys Secret Garden where people learn about hive management and the vital role of bees in nature. There is a big appetite for looking after our bees, and our BuzzFest built on that.”
Andy Knott is returning to Careys Secret Garden for the second fungi festival in October 2025
Return of the Secret Fungi Festival
Careys Secret Garden is now turning its attention to its next major event – the return of its Secret Fungi Festival, which debuted in 2024.
That event is returning from Friday 24th October to Sunday 26th October 2025, with an even bigger line-up of fungi themed walks, talks, workshops, and family activities.
The festival will also feature a fungi themed market and mushroom forages, all set within the three and a half acre walled garden near Wareham.
Jurassic Coast Mushrooms, run by mycologists Andy Knott and Sam Durant will be at the event to talk about their mission to cultivate rare native mushrooms and reintroduce them into the wild, as well as showing off some of the exotic UK species they grow in their Dorset labs.
Further information
- More about events at Careys Secret Garden
