Bee swarm collection in Ceredigion

Coastal gorse gives an early start at Aberystwyth and New Quay; blackthorn and hawthorn run behind. Sycamore and hawthorn are the backbone of May. The Cambrian uplands contribute bell and ling heather from late July — a modest but reliable crop — and bilberry in the sessile oakwoods adds a quiet early-summer supplement. White clover on hill pasture and bramble in deep Welsh hedges carry midsummer. Coastal sea-campion and thrift add an unusual saline note, and ivy closes the year on whitewashed cottage walls.

Ceredigion Beekeepers' Association is a small but dedicated community; swarm calls move quickly thanks to the compact rural network. Collectors handle farms, small villages and the tight streets of Aberystwyth and Cardigan.