Newcastle is the north-east's great city — Georgian streets, the Jesmond Dene river valley, Leazes Park and the post-industrial green corridors of the Ouseburn. Its bees have a surprisingly rich urban season, from the Dene's mature limes and sycamore through to the allotments and rosebay willowherb of the outer suburbs.
Collectors regularly attend swarms in Jesmond Dene, on the sandstone chimney pots of Jesmond, Gosforth and Heaton, in Leazes Park and on the allotments off Nuns Moor Road. The Ouseburn valley brownfield corridor is a known feral-colony habitat producing swarms into city gardens.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
NE9 5AX· approx. 4 km
Visit websiteNE12 8EH· approx. 5 km
Visit websiteDH1 3SG· approx. 24 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
Spring opens on sycamore and horse chestnut in Jesmond Dene, Leazes Park and Saltwell Park. The lime avenues of the Georgian terraces of Newcastle and the Victorian parks of Sunderland lead the June flow. Bramble and rosebay willowherb are heavy on former pit-head and industrial land. The coastal denes — Marsden, Whitburn, Castle Eden — contribute sea-buckthorn and coastal meadow forage; ivy on old stone streets and garden walls closes the year.
More on beekeeping in Tyne and WearReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
