Broughshane is a small village in the Braid valley east of Ballymena, known across Northern Ireland for its exceptionally well-kept streetscape and for winning the Britain in Bloom competition more times than any other village in Ireland. The floral displays, hanging baskets and tended gardens that earned the village this reputation also make it one of the most bee-friendly settlements in County Antrim for the diversity of garden flowers they provide through spring and summer. The Braid River runs through the valley below the village, and the pastoral farmland of the Braid valley and the Skerry hills above carry the whitethorn and whin scrub that is the backbone of the Antrim spring forage. The Slemish Mountain, the basalt plug that dominates the skyline north-east of Broughshane and traditionally associated with St Patrick's years as a slave shepherd on the Antrim hills, provides heather and bilberry on its flanks from July. Sycamore on the village lane trees provides the May flow; hawthorn and whitethorn on the Braid valley field boundaries carry the spring blossom. White clover on the improved pastures is the main June and July source; whin on the Skerry hills adds a distinctive spring supplement. Bramble on all field-corner and lane-side scrub extends the season; ivy on the older properties closes the year.
Collectors attend swarms in the older stone and rendered village properties and the award-winning hanging-basket streetscape, along the Braid River whitethorn and elder scrub corridor, on the whin-covered Skerry hillside above the village, on the Slemish Mountain heather and bilberry slopes accessible from the B94 road, and in the farm outbuildings of the Braid valley pastoral farmland between Broughshane and Carnlough.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
BT26 6NH· approx. 52 km
CA24 3HZ· approx. 176 km
Visit websiteCA13 0AU· approx. 184 km
Association data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
Blackthorn and whitethorn on deep field hedges open the year. Sycamore is the backbone of May; hawthorn follows hard. Lime lines Belfast and Ballymena streets. The Glens of Antrim contribute bell and ling heather on the high moors between Cushendall and Glenariff, a late summer crop still commercially worked. Bilberry in basalt scree hills, bramble in every sheltered townland, and a long ivy flow on white-rendered cottage walls close the year.
More on beekeeping in County AntrimReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
