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BAMFORD CARNIVAL
EXHIBIT |
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On
17 July 99 Prof Francis Ratnieks and nine helpers from his laboratory
and local beekeeper groups made a display of dinosaur ants,
leaf cutter ants, observation bee hive, beekeeping equipment,
and honey at the Bamford Carnival in Derbyshire UK
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Bamford
is a small village in the Hope Valley (where Prof. Ratnieks lives.)
The observation hive was being videoed, so that things like
the queen laying eggs could be seen in large size on a monitor
beside the hive. |
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The
event was a great success. No one was stung. The ants and bees
behaved themselves, no giant dinosaur ants escaped, and the
display tent was visited by about 500 people. |
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It
was interesting to see the reactions of people on seeing the
dinosaur ants, which were being shown to all by Dr. Thibaud
Monnin. Some people, mainly small boys, thought they were very
interesting.
Most people did not know what to think. Some others, mainly
women, thought they were 'dreadful' |
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The
honey tasting gave people a chance to taste two local honeys
straight from the comb--heather and lime tree (harvested that
morning from a hive at the lab)--and also other varieties from
jars. Although most people like honey and were keen to try the
different varieties, it is clear that some children do not know
what honey is. Maybe if it was put in a pack and had lots of
chemicals and extra flavourings added they would like it better! |
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People
helping Dr. Ratnieks from Sheffield University: Dr, Thibaud
Monnin, Luis Medina, Amanda Harman, Mike Harman, Amanda Mynott
Chesterfield beekeepers: Mike and Rosemary Ashford
Peak Bee Group (Bamford): Shirley Parkin, Dr. Martin
Hayes-Allen |
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Professor
Francis Ratnieks
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences,
University of Sheffield,Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
tel: 0114 2220070 (office), 01142 220147 (Lab. office),
01142220149 (Lab/postdocs/students), 0114
2220002 (fax)
e-mail: F.Ratnieks@Sheffield.ac.uk
(when dialing from ouside UK the country code
is 44; also delete the 0 in the 0114 city code)
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