A GREAT swarm of south west beekeepers gathered at the Memorial Hall in Holsworthy to hear some of the top researchers in bee behaviour and bee health.

Professor Robert Pickard, zoologist and neurobiologist from Swansea University, presented a talk on 'Bees and Humans'.

The most important thing bees have given humans, he said, is the evolutionary process of flowers having developed colour and scent.

All plants were initially simple shades of green and yellow with bowed heads waiting for the wind to blow.

When insects started to collect pollen as protein, immediately there was huge competition among plants to attract insects and therefore flower colours and shapes evolved.

Beekeeping also provides a great model for true society and would be ideal to study in school. If we could mimic the social life of the honeybee the world would be a better place.

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.