Coventry is a major city in the heart of England, rebuilt after wartime bombing with the Cathedral as its centrepiece, and surrounded by the mixed farmland and parkland of the Warwickshire Arden on three sides. The North Warwickshire BKA covers the city and surrounding area, and despite the urban fabric, Coventry's many parks — War Memorial Park, Brandon Marsh nature reserve on the Avon, Coombe Country Park and the allotment and garden fringe of the older Victorian suburbs — give city bees a surprisingly productive season.
Collectors regularly attend swarms in the older garden remnants and lime trees of the Cathedral and Spon Street conservation areas, along the Sherbourne and Sowe riverside willows and reed-bed margins at Brandon Marsh, in the parkland and old orchard remnants of Coombe Country Park and War Memorial Park, and in the chimney stacks and eaves of the older Victorian and Edwardian suburban properties.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
CV3 4AQ· approx. 3 km
Visit websiteCV32 4AA· approx. 13 km
Visit websiteCV11 5DN· approx. 14 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
Early flows come from blackthorn and cherry in the Arden hedgerows and oilseed rape on the lighter soils around Southam and Shipston. Hawthorn is abundant; sycamore and field maple fill the middle of May. Lime and sweet chestnut in the parkland around Warwick, Kenilworth and Stratford produce a strong June flow. Bramble and rosebay willowherb support July, and a solid ivy flow along the ironstone villages closes a long season.
More on beekeeping in WarwickshireReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
