Sevenoaks is a prosperous market town on the greensand ridge of north-west Kent, with Knole Park — 1,000 acres of ancient deer park and veteran woodland — adjoining the town centre. The park's ancient oaks and limes provide outstanding urban forage, and the surrounding North Downs dip slope carries orchard, hop garden and chalk grassland in equal measure. The Sevenoaks BKA is one of the county's most experienced divisions.
Collectors here regularly handle swarms in the ancient oaks and lime allées of Knole Park, in the mature garden trees of the Vine and Bradbourne conservation areas, on the orchard and hop-garden boundaries of the villages towards Westerham and Eynsford, and in the chimney stacks and tile-hung gables of the older residential streets near the High Street.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
TN16 1BG· approx. 8 km
Visit websiteBR6 7JH· approx. 11 km
Visit websiteTN10 4LL· approx. 11 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
Few places open as explosively as Kent. Cherry, apple, pear and plum in the orchards of Faversham, Tenterden and the Medway bring an intense early flow, followed closely by oilseed rape on the North Downs dip slopes. Lime and sweet chestnut carry hives through June, particularly in the coppiced woods of the Weald. Late summer is often dominated by fireweed on the chalk pits and disturbed ground, with a strong and valuable ivy flow across the coastal plain from Deal to Whitstable. Hops, though decorative for bees, add to the mosaic.
More on beekeeping in KentReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
