Eastbourne is a large coastal resort town at the foot of the South Downs, with Beachy Head immediately to the west and the chalk grassland of the Downland plateau carrying clover, vetch and marjoram through June and July. The town's Victorianparks and mature garden suburbs hold reliable lime and sycamore flows, and the Eastbourne BKA — established in 1919 — is one of the oldest and most active in the county.
The Eastbourne BKA takes swarm calls across the town and surrounding area. Collectors regularly attend the allotments and garden hedges of the Meads and Old Town districts, the mature park trees around Devonshire Park and the carpet gardens of the seafront, and the downland scrub margins above Upper Duke's Drive where feral colonies use the chalk-flint scarp as natural nest sites.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
BN26 5DF· approx. 6 km
Visit websiteTN33 9QA· approx. 22 km
Visit websiteBN7 2LR· approx. 22 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
The early flow starts on blackthorn and wild cherry, before hawthorn lights the hedges of the Weald. Late May to July carries the colonies on sweet chestnut around Heathfield, bramble across every common and hedge bank, and — most characteristically — heather on Ashdown Forest from late July into August, giving the dark, jelly-like Ash Down heather honey some members still cut-comb for show. Ivy closes the year on sheltered sandstone lanes and the tall old churchyards of Rye, Lewes and Battle.
More on beekeeping in East SussexReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
