Solihull is an affluent town on the south-eastern edge of Birmingham, set in the Arden countryside between the city and the Warwickshire border, with Brueton Park and the Blythe valley immediately to the south. The Solihull BKA covers the town, and the surrounding landscape — the old parkland limes of Brueton Park and Tudor Grange, the Blythe riverside willows and watermeadow margins, the ancient hedgerow oaks and hay meadows of the Arden country towards Knowle and Hampton-in-Arden, and the old orchard and garden country of the Solihull fringe — gives local bees a productive Arden-and-town season.
Collectors regularly attend swarms in the older garden remnants and lime trees of the High Street and Malvern Park conservation areas, along the Blythe riverside willows and watermeadow margins at Brueton Park and Barston, in the ancient hedgerow oak and hay-meadow remnants of the Arden country towards Knowle, 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.
B91 1LG· approx. 1 km
Visit websiteB13 8QG· approx. 9 km
Visit websiteB74 2YT· approx. 17 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
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.
More on beekeeping in West MidlandsReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
