Ryhall is a Rutland village on the River Gwash, just three miles north of Stamford in the far east of the county. The Gwash meanders between willows and alder carr through a shallow flood meadow here before continuing south-east to join the River Welland near Tallington. The village's position in the Gwash valley, surrounded by arable farmland planted with oilseed rape, winter wheat and field beans, gives local colonies an early spring flow followed by white clover on the water meadow margins through June and July. St John the Evangelist's Church, with its striking early Norman tower, stands at the heart of a quiet limestone streetscape typical of east Rutland.
Collectors are called to swarms in the churchyard yews and mature limes of St John's, in the stone barn voids and ivy-covered wall cavities of the older farm steadings on Church Street, along the Gwash river willows heading west towards Great Casterton, and in the field hedgerows lining the B1176 between Ryhall and Essendine.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
PE9 4HZ· approx. 6 km
Visit websitePE7 3BN· approx. 20 km
Visit websiteNG318JS· approx. 33 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
The season opens on blackthorn and hawthorn along the ancient limestone hedgerows, followed by sycamore and oilseed rape across the arable fields east of Oakham and Ketton. Lime flowers well in both market towns in June; white clover and field margins carry colonies through July. The reservoir shore at Rutland Water supports willowherb and wild angelica into late summer, and field maple, bramble and ivy on the churchyard walls close the year through October and November.
More on beekeeping in RutlandReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
