Ballymoney is a market town in the Route district of north Antrim — the agricultural heartland of north County Antrim, where productive drumlin farmland stretches between the Causeway Coast and the Bann valley. The Bush River's willows and alder run south of the town; whitethorn hedgerows are deep and thick on the old field boundaries across the Route; oilseed rape is grown on the heavier soils giving a strong April–May flow. The Antrim plateau to the east carries ling and bell heather from late July; Ballypatrick Forest above the Glens contributes bilberry and rowan. The mild north Antrim climate, moderated by the Atlantic, extends the active season from early blackthorn through to October ivy on whitewashed farm cottage walls.
Collectors attend swarms along the Bush River willows south of the town, in the deep whitethorn hedgerows on the Route farm lanes east toward Armoy and west toward Stranocum, in the oilseed rape field margins on the Bann valley roads, and in the eaves and garden walls of the older properties on High Street and Charlotte Street.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
BT26 6NH· approx. 78 km
CA24 3HZ· approx. 199 km
Visit websiteCA13 0AU· approx. 206 km
Association data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
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.
More on beekeeping in County AntrimReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
