Of course the easiest way to do this is to let the bees fly there directly from your apiary. However, not all of us our lucky enough to have apiaries close enough to enable this.
If you want to move your bees onto the Heather in the New Forest then The Forestry Commission, now operating as Forestry England, manages the New Forest and permits beekeepers to place their hives on the heather during the flowering season, typically from late July to September.
Beekeepers must obtain a license, usually arranged in April or May, to position their hives in designated areas. These locations are carefully selected to ensure they are away from roads, paths, and bridleways, and are sufficiently distant from other hives to prevent overcrowding and reduce the risk of disease transmission.
Around 2018 when Hampshire ran the licencing regime there were around 400 hives moved to the heather in the New Forest, however in 2024 this haD now dropped to 163.
Costs as of 2025
The current charges are £79.00 + VAT for a standard application fee and then the hive fee for 5 or less is £4.50 each + VAT and for 6 or more £8.00 each + VAT.
Forestry England prefer that beekeepers wishing to place hives on the heather contact them directly at southern.permissions@forestryengland.uk
They will then send out a link for the application process directly.
Southern Permissions Team
The King?s House
Forestry England
Growing the Future
0300 067 4601
Preparing Bees for the Heather
Preparing honey bee colonies for heather foraging in the UK requires strategic planning to ensure strong, healthy colonies capable of maximizing the heather nectar flow. Here are key steps to consider:
- Select Strong Colonies with Young Queens: Choose robust colonies led by young, fertile queens. Young queens are more prolific layers, ensuring a large workforce of foraging bees. It’s advisable to requeen in the spring to allow the colony ample time to build up.
Bee Listener - Boost Colony Strength: In the weeks leading up to the heather bloom, consider uniting weaker colonies to form stronger ones. This consolidation increases foraging power and enhances honey yields. Additionally, moving adjacent hives away can direct more foragers into the heather-targeted colonies.
Beekeeping & Apiculture Forum - Manage Brood Nest and Supers: Rearrange the brood nest by placing frames with eggs on the outer sides. This setup encourages bees to store honey in the supers rather than the brood chamber, facilitating easier extraction. Utilizing previously drawn comb in the supers can also enhance honey storage efficiency.
- Timing the Move to Heather: Transport colonies to the heather moors just as the bloom begins, typically in late July or early August. Arriving too early or too late can result in missed foraging opportunities. Monitoring local heather flowering times and weather patterns is crucial for optimal timing.
Beespoke - Health Checks and Disease Management: Ensure colonies are disease-free before relocation. Regular inspections for brood diseases and pests like Varroa mites are essential. Implement appropriate treatments well in advance of the move to avoid contaminating the honey crop.
National Bee Unit - Post-Foraging Care: After the heather flowering season, typically ending in September, return the colonies to their original apiary. Extract the heather honey promptly, as its gelatinous consistency can make extraction challenging if delayed. Following extraction, prepare the colonies for winter by ensuring they have adequate food stores and are in good health.