Over 11,000 beekeepers updated their details on BeeBase during the 2022 hive count compared to almost 9,000 in 2021. There are currently more than 48,000 beekeepers registered on BeeBase and approximately 23% of those contacted updated their records.
The 2022 hive count produced a figure of 288,311 colonies in the UK. This is slightly higher than the 2021 figure of 272,631
The Hive Count provides a very useful indication of the number of managed colonies in the UK and helps ensure that BeeBase records are kept up to date. Information about numbers and location of hives is very important for the National Bee Unit and Scottish Government inspectors in terms of preparing and planning for outbreaks of disease and exotic pests.
Thank you very much to everyone who has taken the time to ensure that their BeeBase records are up to date.