Braidwater Apiaries is based in Ballymena, County Antrim, and was founded in 2015 by a vet and an engineer who shared a long-standing curiosity about beekeeping. What began as a visit to a local beekeeping association quickly turned into a full passion, with the pair captivated by the complexity and fascination of working with bees. The operation has grown steadily and now encompasses a number of apiary sites across County Antrim. A key focus of Braidwater Apiaries is the raising and promotion of Apis mellifera mellifera, the native dark honey bee and the only native strain of honey bee found in the UK or Ireland. They produce pure, natural honey described as going straight from the hive to the customer's home, as well as queens and nucleus colonies (nucs) for other beekeepers. Additional services include swarm removal, the supply of beeswax and other hive products, and the opportunity for landowners to host an apiary in exchange for honey. Contact is made via email.
