Bonnyrigg is a residential town on the South Esk above Dalkeith, one of the larger commuter settlements in Midlothian, whose southern edge approaches the North Esk valley at Roslin Glen. The North Esk gorge and Roslin Glen Country Park are accessible within a short distance to the southwest — a Site of Special Scientific Interest with ancient oak and ash woodland on the steep gorge sides that is one of the finest wild forage areas in the Lothians. The farmland east of Bonnyrigg carries oilseed rape and white clover in season; the South Esk corridor to the east carries hawthorn and willow bankside scrub. Sycamore in the residential streets and on road margins is the dominant May flow source in the town itself.
Collectors attend swarms in the Roslin Glen SSSI oak and ash woodland above the North Esk gorge, on the South Esk hawthorn and willow bankside east of the town, on the oilseed rape field margins east toward Cousland, and in the garden trees and stone eave cavities of the older residential streets around Hopefield Road and Cockpen Road.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
CA6 4HN· approx. 104 km
Visit websiteNE65 9QH· approx. 111 km
Visit websiteNE46 3NB· approx. 119 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
Oilseed rape on the Midlothian arable plain between Dalkeith, Pathhead and the East Lothian boundary provides a powerful April-May flow that is one of the most reliable in the Lothians. White clover on the improved pastures of the Esk valley floor and the amenity grasslands of the Midlothian towns is the main mid-summer crop from June through July. Sycamore is the dominant May flow tree throughout the council area, with the best sources in the North Esk gorge woodlands at Roslin Glen and Lasswade. Hawthorn on the valley hedgerows and the Midlothian lane margins provides a complementary May blossom flow. Himalayan balsam is establishing in the lower Esk corridors near Dalkeith. Bramble is dense on former colliery and mining reclamation sites throughout the area. The Pentland Hills above Penicuik and the Moorfoot Hills above Gorebridge carry heather and bilberry from late July — modest but accessible upland heather ground within the council area. Ivy closes the foraging year on Dalkeith Palace estate walls and the older stone buildings of the Esk valley villages in October.
More on beekeeping in MidlothianReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
