Local Honey Dalry

Balmore and Pennyland Bees is a community beekeeping initiative run by the Dalry Community Development Hub (DCDH), a registered Scottish charity (SCO45464) based in Dalry, North Ayrshire. The project began in 2021 when the Dalry Community Garden was gifted a beehive from the previous owners of Blair House. As no suitable space existed within the community garden, the hive was cleaned, painted, and rehomed in a trustee's garden, becoming known as Balmore Bees. A second hive, Pennyland Bees, was later placed in another beekeeper's garden. Two DCDH trustees completed a beekeeping course in 2022/23 delivered by the North Ayrshire Beekeepers Association (NABA), covering both theory and practical apiary sessions. They are mentored by a local retired beekeeper with over forty years of experience. Both hives received swarms in May 2023. The bees forage across Dalry, including Himalayan Balsam growing beside the local river. Honey in the comb was produced in the first season, intended to overwinter the colonies, with extracted honey planned for sale from 2024 onwards. Updates are shared via the project's Facebook page.