Welcome to our service - setting up mutual relationships across the UK between hosts and beekeepers and of course our bees!

Here our beekeepers can find good citizens across the UK offering up their land for a beehive. If you're a beekeeper looking for a new home for your colony download the Beekeepers' Agreement and get in touch with a host using the map.

Is my garden suitable?

No simple answer but, in general,  there are fewer problems in rural gardens but more care will be needed in built up areas to avoid causing nuisance to neighbours.

BBKA members are hobbyist beekeepers so may have full-time jobs and would need access to the hives in the evening and at weekends to carry out health and maintenance checks.

Main considerations: 

• Immediate neighbours
• Those who will be passing close to hives such as walkers or horse riders
• Your own family

Many people are aware of the value of bees but if you detect a negative response you should reconsider your offer.  Should people become alarmed about the presence of bee hives their complaints can result in the bees being considered a nuisance whether they are or not.  Even if neighbours are stung by wasps the bees in your garden may get the blame.

What are the problems likely to be?

Stings will clearly be the main concern most people have and it doesn’t help when they are told there are 50,000 bees in a hive!  In general bees are only likely to be a problem close to their home, away from that any sting is likely to be an accident.  In normal circumstances bees will tolerate someone walking or working within a few metres of a hive without any problem.

After lengthy confinement in the winter, bees’ flight, on warm days in early spring, can result in anything in the vicinity of the hives being spotted with faeces. If this includes neighbours’ washing or cars then any resentment is understandable.  Not much can be done to prevent this and although little harm is done it is unlikely to improve relations that might already be somewhat strained.

At swarming time (late April to end July) not only is a settling swarm likely to cause anxiety but also, if it subsequently decides to take up residence in a local building such as in a roof or chimney, then it can be very difficult to remove.

Please see our leaftlet 'Bees, Neighbours & Siting an Apiary' for further useful information.

As we use a map system please give us the postcode where you would like the map pin locating.  If you decide you no longer want to be on the map then please let us know and we will remove you as soon as possible. Once you find a beekeeper and want to remove your listing again please let us know. Please note your position and information are publicly available on the map. 

'Beekeeper' icon courtesy of flaticon.com 

If you think you've got what it takes to offer a honey bee sanctuary get in touch!

To register your site on the map, please send your postcode / email address / a short description together with a photo of the land and tell us whether you're a business or it is a personal address to [email protected]  .

If you are a potential host and don't think you have enough forage available this year, don't fear. There is a great guide available here to tell you what you can get planting to gear up to be the ideal hive host in the coming years. 

-ends-