Bee swarm collection in West Midlands

Spring is carried on blossoming garden cherry, blackthorn and horse chestnut in parks like Sutton, Lickey Hills and Cannon Hill. Urban limes — both small-leaved and hybrid — dominate the June flow, especially along the old tram and canal routes. Bramble is universal on allotments and towpaths, and rosebay willowherb flushes the brownfield and rail corridors through July. The Clent and Waseley Hills give a useful edge of hill forage to colonies in the southern fringe, and ivy closes a long urban season.

Birmingham & District BKA and neighbouring Solihull, Coventry and Dudley branches run one of the most active urban beekeeping programmes in the country, with training apiaries in city parks and canal-side allotments. Collectors here are used to terrace chimneys, workshop roof voids and the small garden boundaries of the inner suburbs.