Shanklin is a seaside town on the sheltered south-east coast of the Isle of Wight, with a sandy beach below the chalk cliffs and the wooded ravine of Shanklin Chine cutting down to the shore. The Isle of Wight BKA covers the town, and the surrounding landscape — the chalk downland ridge of the central island, the old cliff-top gardens of Luccombe and Bonchurch, the Eastern Yar watermeadows and the deep wooded gardens of Shanklin Old Village — makes the south-east of the island one of the most productive areas for bees on the island.
Collectors regularly attend swarms in the older cliff-top garden remnants and mature shrubs of the Shanklin Old Village and Hope Road conservation areas, on the chalk downland and scrub margins of Shanklin Down and Luccombe Down, along the Eastern Yar watermeadow willows towards Newchurch, and in the chimney stacks and eaves of the older Victorian and Edwardian seafront properties.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
PO33 4ES· approx. 11 km
Visit websitePO14 2PE· approx. 21 km
Visit websitePO3 5FS· approx. 24 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
A mild maritime climate gives the island an early start. Blackthorn and gorse carry the pre-hawthorn period; sycamore and horse chestnut follow. Lime in Ryde, Newport, Cowes and Ventnor gives a strong June flow. Bramble is dense on every hedge and undercliff; the Downs contribute chalk grassland herbs. A small late-summer heather patch on Shalfleet and Bouldnor common, combined with coastal sea-lavender and samphire flows, gives island honey a characteristic mineral edge. Ivy on flint cottage walls closes the year.
More on beekeeping in Isle of WightReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
