Morley is a former woollens market town on the ridge between the Aire and Calder valleys, now part of the Leeds metropolitan borough but retaining its independent character. Morley Park, Scatcherd Park and the remnant hedgerow corridor of the Morley Bottoms hollow way give local bees access to hawthorn, bramble and lime throughout the season; the Leeds BKA covers the area, with the neighbouring Wakefield branch providing additional collector coverage to the south.
Collectors cover swarms in the mature lime and horse chestnut trees of Scatcherd Park and the Town Hall area, along the hedgerow and Churwell Beck corridor at Morley Bottoms, in the allotment gardens of the Morley Newlands and Churwell fringe, and in the chimney stacks and eaves of the older Victorian and Edwardian terrace properties throughout the town.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
BD4 6QN· approx. 8 km
Visit websiteWF2 8QE· approx. 9 km
Visit websiteLS15 0AD· approx. 11 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
The lower valleys of the Aire, Calder and Wharfe open with sycamore and wild cherry in April, before the hawthorn and hill meadows of the Pennine fringe come in. Bramble carries the middle of the season, supported by rosebay willowherb on the post-industrial brownfield — a strong northern flow. The signature crop is heather: bell from late July and ling through August on Ilkley Moor, Baildon, Ovenden, Rishworth and Denholme commons, giving the thick, ambercast heather honey that remains a point of local pride.
More on beekeeping in West YorkshireReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
