Sydney Branch: Talk – Honey/apiculture and gardens

An Illustrated Talk by Liane Colwell

Such was the English prodigality and expertise in Apiculture (hive products) and Apitherapy (remedial use of those products), that England was once known as the Isle of Honey. Skilled in botanical medicine and gardening in extreme conditions, their diligence as apiarists was grounded in cunning garden design, both in formal gardens, cottage kitchen gardens and nurturing the commons. This talk will examine those factors and practices, up to the 19th century, and the factors that led to the reduced reliance on English apiculture.

Time:  Arrive between 6 and 6:45 pm for a 7 pm start.

Location: Annie Wyatt Room, National Trust of Australia (NSW), Upper Fort Street, Miller’s Point.

 Book: at Trybooking.

Liane Colwell won a le Cordon Bleu scholarship in her MA Gastronomy. She has run events at the Museum of Sydney and for the Australian Institute of Food Scientists and Technologists (AIFST), including presenting at conferences and in posters. She has given talks at bee clubs: The Rise of Sugar and the Fall of Honey and judged hive products at all levels (national honey show, Orange show) and the Colonel Pulling Trophy (NSW), 3 years running. She has taught at Sydney’s best cooking school (Accoutrement, Mosman) in 2005, 2006 and community colleges. She was a guest lecturer at UNSW & UTS. She is a trade and post-trade qualified chef, and qualified confectioner, with a PDC in Permaculture and permaculture teaching qualification. She was a Green Hero nominee at UTS in 2016, for apiculture and vermiculture promotion. An invited speaker at Sydney’s Royal Easter Show 2025 for the 3rd year running: Gourmet Cooking with Honey, she hopes to start a PhD this year, on CBD homesteading.