Wales · Swarm collection

Bee swarm collection in Neath Port Talbot

Neath Port Talbot (Castell-nedd Port Talbot) is a coastal and valley county borough stretching from the tidal Nedd and Afan estuaries on Swansea Bay northward through the Vale of Neath to the Brecon Beacons National Park boundary near Glynneath. The borough contains extraordinary landscape variety: an active steelworks coast, mature country-park parkland, wooded gorge country, open heather moorland and Waterfall Country — all within a short distance of one another.

Forage & honey flows

Sycamore dominates the valley sides throughout the borough, delivering a generous May flow in every settled community from Briton Ferry to Glynneath. Hawthorn and blackthorn on the valley-side hedgerows and upland field margins follow through late April and May. White clover is abundant on valley-floor parks, sports grounds and the coastal amenity grassland around Swansea Bay; bramble is exceptionally heavy on reclaimed colliery and industrial land throughout the valley floors. The lime avenues of Margam Country Park provide a distinctive July flow; Margam's veteran chestnut and oak supplement through spring. Bilberry and ling heather on the Mynydd y Gwair and the upper Dulais and Neath Valley plateaux offer a late-summer supplement for colonies on the valley rim. Alder and willow along the Nedd, Dulais and Afan corridors contribute early pollen; the Kenfig sand dune system brings sea buckthorn and dune-slack flora within reach of coastal apiaries.

Beekeeping character

The West Glamorgan BKA is the primary association for the borough, covering the Neath and Afan valleys. The Swansea and District BKA covers the western edge of the borough near Skewen. Both associations maintain active swarm rosters.

Seen a swarm in Neath Port Talbot?

Report it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.