Rawcliffe is a residential suburb on the north-western edge of York, where the city merges into the flat Vale of York plain and the Rawcliffe Ings wetland meadows stretch along the River Ouse toward the Clifton Ings nature reserve. Oilseed rape on the arable fields beyond Skelton Road and the Water Lane allotments opens the season in April; lime trees lining the streets of Rawcliffe Lane and Millfield Lane contribute a strong city flow in June; and the Ings riverside willows, hawthorn scrub and elder carry forage from April through August.
Swarms are regularly found in the Rawcliffe Ings riverside willows and hawthorn scrub along the Ouse bank, in the mature lime and sycamore in residential streets around Rawcliffe Lane, in the Water Lane allotment hedge boundaries, and on the roof eaves and chimneys of the 1960s and 1970s detached houses throughout the suburb.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
YO19 5UF· approx. 7 km
Visit websiteYO61 3AG· approx. 16 km
LS25 6HH· approx. 21 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
Oilseed rape on the Vale of York arable fields around Dunnington, Poppleton and Skelton opens the season from early April. Hawthorn is dense on the field-boundary hedgerows all around the city fringe. York city centre is defined by its lime flow in June — Museum Gardens, Dean's Park, the Knavesmire lime avenue and the Victorian residential streets of Bishopthorpe Road and Bootham all contribute. Bramble is prolific on the railway embankment and Strensall Common edges; willowherb and himalayan balsam follow on the Ouse riverside. Bell heather on Strensall Common gives a modest but genuine late-July supplement. Ivy on the City Walls, churchyard walls and older suburban gardens closes the year.
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