Polesworth is a former mining village in the Anker Valley, built around a Benedictine abbey whose grounds and Norman church are still an important local landmark. The Anker riverside meadows carry hawthorn and meadowsweet; the village gardens have mature fruit trees and hedgerow elders; and the post-industrial land south of the village is colonised by willowherb and bramble — a substantial forage corridor for local colonies.
Collectors are regularly called to swarms in the abbey grounds and the mature trees of Abbey Road, in riverside hawthorn and elder along the Anker at Pooley Country Park, in the eaves and outbuildings of ex-farm cottages on Tamworth Road, and in the garden trees of the newer estates.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
CV11 5DN· approx. 14 km
Visit websiteB74 2YT· approx. 17 km
Visit websiteDE13 0BN· approx. 23 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.
