Fareham is a market town at the head of Portsmouth Harbour, with the tidal Meon valley behind it and the chalk ridge of the South Downs visible to the north. The harbour saltmarsh provides unusual sea-lavender forage in late summer, the garden suburbs of Locks Heath and Titchfield carry a solid bramble flow, and the old walled gardens of Titchfield Abbey add heritage interest. The Fareham & District BKA has a strong collector network across south Hampshire.
Collectors regularly attend swarms in the mature garden trees of the Portchester and Locks Heath residential areas, in the old brick boundary walls of Titchfield village, along the tidal creek margins of the Meon valley, and in the roof voids of the older Georgian and Victorian properties on the High Street and West Street.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
PO14 2PE· approx. 5 km
Visit websitePO3 5FS· approx. 8 km
Visit websiteSO30 3HA· approx. 13 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
The season opens on oilseed rape across the downs north of Winchester, followed by hawthorn, sycamore and field maple in the hedgerow-rich chalk country. Early summer brings the famous lime flow through Romsey, Alresford and the avenues of Southampton Common, with bramble and white clover carrying hives through July. Late summer belongs to the New Forest — ling and bell heather on the open commons give a thick, amber-tending-black crop, and rosebay willowherb flushes every disturbed ride. Ivy on old boundary oaks finishes the year.
More on beekeeping in HampshireReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
