Edwinstowe is the principal village for Sherwood Forest, most famously associated with the legend of Robin Hood and Maid Marian. The surrounding ancient oak forest edge is outstanding bee habitat: veteran oaks attract natural swarms, lime trees along the forest rides produce a strong June nectar flow, and the open heath of heather and bilberry on the Birklands carries the season into late summer.
Sherwood Forest's ancient oaks regularly shelter primary swarms; collectors also attend gardens in the village centre, hedgerow lime and birch along the forest edge tracks, and swarms clustering in the picnic-area trees at the visitor centre perimeter.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
NG15 9GA· approx. 13 km
Visit websiteS41 8NA· approx. 26 km
Visit websiteDE55 7LX· approx. 27 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
Oilseed rape dominates the spring flow on the light sandy soils between Newark and Retford. Sycamore and horse chestnut carry May; lime lights the streets of Nottingham, West Bridgford, Mansfield and Worksop. Sherwood Forest gives a strong sweet-chestnut and oak-honeydew contribution in June. Rosebay willowherb is exceptionally heavy on the ex-colliery spoil heaps — a genuinely distinctive Nottinghamshire flow — and bramble fills every disused rail corridor. Ivy on old cottage walls closes a productive year.
More on beekeeping in NottinghamshireReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
