Henley-in-Arden is an unspoilt medieval Forest of Arden market town on the River Alne, with an almost complete High Street of timber-framed and Georgian buildings in the heart of south Warwickshire. The Stratford Beekeepers serve the town, and the surrounding landscape — the watermeadow willows and alders of the Alne, the ancient Arden oaks and field-maple hedgerows of the Beaudesert and Lapworth fringe, the parkland lime and sweet chestnut of Umberslade Hall, and the canal-side bramble and willowherb of the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal — gives local bees a long and varied Arden season.
Collectors regularly attend swarms in the lime and oak trees of the High Street and Beaudesert churchyard conservation areas, along the Alne riverside willows and watermeadow margins at Preston Bagot and Wootton Wawen, in the old parkland and garden remnants of Umberslade Hall estate, and in the chimney stacks and eaves of the older timber-framed and Georgian High Street properties.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
CV37 6QW· approx. 12 km
Visit websiteB91 1LG· approx. 13 km
Visit websiteCV32 4AA· approx. 17 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.
