What Are Bees Feeding On Right Now? Early Spring Forage in the UK (Shropshire Guide)
Early spring is a key stage in the beekeeping year. Colonies are beginning to build - increasing brood and population, but it is not yet about honey production.
Instead, bees rely on a mix of early forage sources to support brood rearing and colony growth. In Shropshire and across much of the UK, this includes willow, dandelion, blossom, and a range of smaller sources.
This guide covers what is actually supporting your bees right now, what is coming next, and what it means in practice.
What are bees feeding on in early spring?
Willow (Salix) - the main driver
If there is one plant doing most of the work at this stage, it is willow.
- High pollen levels support brood rearing, which is what allows the colony to increase in size
- Early nectar in mild conditions
- Drives spring build-up
Strong colonies at this time of year are usually making good use of willow.
Dandelions - the first consistent forage
Dandelions are now appearing across lawns, fields, and verges.
- Provide both nectar and pollen
- Widespread and reliable
- Help colonies build steadily rather than produce surplus honey
They're not a major honey crop, but they are one of the first truly consistent sources available across the landscape.
Blossom and local forage
Fruit blossom
Apple, plum, and cherry are starting to come into flower.
- Good source of nectar and pollen
- Often coincides with increasing colony strength
- Widely available in gardens and small orchards
Shropshire is not a major fruit-growing area, but there are plenty of garden trees and small orchards locally. Taken together, these can provide a useful and often overlooked source of forage.
Blackthorn
Blackthorn is one of the earlier hedgerow blossoms.
- Short flowering window
- Weather dependent
- Can be limited by cold or wind
It is useful when conditions allow, but tends to come and go quickly.
Other garden and hedgerow plants
There are also smaller sources, such as flowering currant and other early garden plants.
These are not major contributors on their own, but at this time of year, it all adds up and helps colonies keep moving.
What’s coming next: OSR
OSR is just beginning to come into flower in many areas. This is usually the first main nectar flow of the season.
- Can drive rapid colony expansion
- Potential for honey production in the right conditions
However, whether it produces a honey crop in practice depends on a few things.
Colony strength
To produce surplus honey, colonies need a strong foraging population already in place. If they are still building, most of what they collect will go back into their own development.
Timing
OSR comes in quickly and does not wait. Colonies need to be ready at the right moment to make the most of it
Weather
Warm, calm, dry conditions are needed for good foraging. Poor weather can limit how much bees are able to use it, even when it is in full flower.
Nectar availability
Some years, OSR yields heavily; others, less so. Conditions leading up to flowering make a difference.
Management
Colonies need enough space to store incoming nectar. Without it, they can become congested, which can slow development or lead to swarming.
Up to this point, most forage is used by the colony to grow. OSR is often the first point where that can begin to turn into surplus.
The role of weather
At this time of year, forage may be present, but bees can only use it in suitable conditions.
They need:
- temperatures above roughly 10–12°C
- low wind
- dry weather
Cold or unsettled periods can slow progress significantly. This is why colonies can appear to stall, even when plenty is in flower. A few mild, settled days can quickly change the pace.
What this means for your bees
At this stage, colonies are:
- increasing brood
- building population
- preparing for the main nectar flows
They are not yet producing surplus honey, as most of what they collect is being used to support brood and growth.
Putting it together
Early spring forage is not about one main source. It is a combination of willow, dandelions, blossom, and smaller local forage that supports colony development.
Understanding what is in flower, how weather affects it, and how colonies respond helps explain what you are seeing in the hive at this time of year.
This is the stage we aim to bring our overwintered nucs through before they go out - well established, building steadily, and ready to make the most of the season ahead.