Over 8,500 beekeepers updated their details on BeeBase during the 2023 hive count compared to over 11,000 in 2022. There are currently more than 49,000 beekeepers registered on BeeBase and approximately 18% of those contacted updated their records.

The 2023 hive count produced a figure of 252,577 colonies in the UK. This is lower than the 2022 figure of 288,311

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.