Langstone is a village on Newport's eastern fringe, set in the limestone and red-sandstone country between the city and the Caldicot Levels, with the River Usk winding through meadows just to the north. The Gwent BKA covers this area, and the surrounding landscape gives local bees a characteristically varied season: the Usk water meadows and riverside willows carry the early flow alongside hawthorn on the red-soil hedges; the limestone grassland and ancient hedgerows of the Llangybi commons to the east contribute wild thyme and knapweed; the mixed woodland of Wentwood to the north-east adds sweet chestnut and field maple in June. Bramble in the deep lane hedges fills July; a strong ivy flow on the limestone walls and old farmhouses closes a long year.
Collectors regularly attend swarms in the older stone-and-render farmhouses and cottage gardens of Langstone village, along the Usk riverside willows and water-meadow margins below Langstone Farm, on the limestone grassland and scrub margins of the Llangybi commons, in the hedged lane margins of the old field systems between Langstone and Llanwern, and in the eaves and roof voids of the older stone and brick buildings in the village.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
NP7 9DY· approx. 20 km
Visit websiteBS32 4PG· approx. 23 km
Visit websiteBS24 7AY· approx. 26 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
The Gwent Levels carry a distinctive damp-meadow forage — purple loosestrife, hemp agrimony, meadowsweet — and white clover on the grazed marsh. Wentwood provides a classic ancient woodland flow of sycamore, field maple, lime and sweet chestnut. The city's Belle Vue Park and the banks of the Usk offer urban lime. Bramble is universal; rosebay willowherb flushes former industrial land. Coastal sea-lavender at Peterstone Wentlooge adds seasoning, and ivy on the old red-brick terraces closes the year.
More on beekeeping in NewportReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
