County Antrim runs from the Belfast hills out to the Glens of Antrim and the Causeway Coast — one of the most bee-friendly landscapes in Ireland, with deep hedges, basalt cliffs and hill heather.
Blackthorn and whitethorn on deep field hedges open the year. Sycamore is the backbone of May; hawthorn follows hard. Lime lines Belfast and Ballymena streets. The Glens of Antrim contribute bell and ling heather on the high moors between Cushendall and Glenariff, a late summer crop still commercially worked. Bilberry in basalt scree hills, bramble in every sheltered townland, and a long ivy flow on white-rendered cottage walls close the year.
Ulster Beekeepers' Association and the Native Irish Honey Bee Society between them anchor the county. Native Irish (Apis mellifera mellifera) stock is widely worked here — Northern Ireland has been one of the strongest guardians of native-type honey bees in the British Isles.
The native dark Irish honey bee remains the standard stock for many Antrim apiaries, and the Glens have some of the purest native populations in Europe.
We prioritise coverage county-wide. Towns with a dedicated page below; more town pages rolling out soon.
Dedicated town pages for County Antrim are coming soon. You can still report a swarm now and your local beekeeper will get in touch.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations that support swarm collection in this area.
BT26 6NH· approx. 34 km
CA24 3HZ· approx. 173 km
Visit websiteCA13 0AU· approx. 183 km
CA12 4NT· approx. 200 km
LL77 7NX· approx. 203 km
CA6 4HN· approx. 209 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
Report it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
