Magherafelt is the main market town at the centre of County Londonderry, set on the Moyola River between the Lough Neagh basin to the east and the Sperrins foothills to the west. The Moyola valley carries rich drumlin farmland with dense hawthorn and blackthorn hedgerows that are outstanding in May blossom. The Lough Neagh shoreline — with its willow carr, meadowsweet and purple loosestrife — lies just a short distance east. Sycamore lines the older residential streets through the town and is a dominant forage source in late May. The productive small-farm landscape surrounding the town supports strong year-round foraging for bees.
Collectors attend swarms along the Moyola River willows and alder through the town margins, in the hawthorn and blackthorn hedgerows on the drumlin farm lanes east toward Castledawson and the Lough Neagh shore, in the sycamore avenues of the older residential streets, and in garden trees and eaves of properties near the town centre.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
BT26 6NH· approx. 53 km
CA24 3HZ· approx. 198 km
Visit websiteCA13 0AU· approx. 208 km
Association data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
Coastal gorse on the north coast carries an early flow. Blackthorn, hawthorn and sycamore fill May. Lime dominates June in Derry, Coleraine and Limavady. The Sperrins contribute bell and ling heather from late July. The Roe and Bann valleys bring himalayan balsam into a strong late-summer flow; coastal sea-thrift and sea-aster at Magilligan add seasoning; ivy closes a long year on whitewashed cottage walls.
More on beekeeping in County LondonderryReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
