Ballinamallard is a small village north of Enniskillen on the Ballinamallard River, an Erne tributary flowing through drumlin farmland dense with whitethorn hedges. The surrounding fields carry some of north Fermanagh's most productive spring forage when the hawthorn is in full bloom. Castlecoole demesne (National Trust), with its magnificent Palladian house, lies a short drive east along the A4: its lime avenue, parkland pasture and estate woodland offer sustained mid-summer forage from lime blossom in July, followed by bramble in the rough grassland margins. Ivy on the demesne walls and the older stone buildings of the village itself sustains late foraging well into October.
Swarms in Ballinamallard are frequently seen in the willows and alder along the Ballinamallard River banks through the village, in the lime trees of the Castlecoole demesne avenue off the A4, in the hawthorn hedges along the Irvinestown Road, and on the ivy-covered estate walls near the Castlecoole gates.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
BT26 6NH· approx. 104 km
LL77 7NX· approx. 251 km
CA24 3HZ· approx. 260 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
Blackthorn and hawthorn on limestone hedges open the year; sycamore fills May. Lime in Enniskillen gives a strong June flow. Bramble is dense; the lough islands' limestone grassland contributes wild thyme, marjoram and knapweed. Hemp agrimony and purple loosestrife along the Erne and its tributaries carry a long late-summer flow. A modest ling heather crop on the Cuilcagh uplands, and ivy on old lakeside cottages, close a long mild year.
More on beekeeping in County FermanaghReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
