BeeBase registration and keeping apiary details current
Find the official registration route for your part of the UK and build a simple reminder to keep apiary information current.
Start with the official route
GOV.UK directs beekeepers in England, Scotland and Wales to BeeBase. Registering helps the National Bee Unit monitor pests and diseases and provide relevant information, including local disease alerts. Northern Ireland has a different route: DataBees. Use the links in the official registration section for your location.
SRUC describes BeeBase registration as free and recommends keeping records current whenever bees move, including seasonal moves to and from forage sites. This helps the Scottish bee health team track outbreaks and contact affected keepers when an inspection is needed. SRUC responsible beekeeping advice.
A small administration routine
The following is a personal reminder checklist, not a reproduction of the registration form or a statement of its required fields. Follow the current official form when entering details.
- Open the official service from GOV.UK and create or access your account.
- Compare the apiary information in the service with the sites where your bees actually are.
- Check how the service will contact you, especially if your email address has changed.
- Put a private reminder beside each planned move to check the official record afterwards.
- Note the date you last reviewed your account in your own notebook.
Keep locations, account details and passwords private. This website's inspection record stays separate from BeeBase: saving an inspection here does not register an apiary or update an official record.
Registration and inspection notes do different jobs
| Record | Useful question |
|---|---|
| Official apiary information | Can the appropriate bee health team reach me about the correct site? |
| Your inspection notes | What did I observe in this colony, and what is my next action? |
| Your mentor question list | Which observation do I need help interpreting? |
Use consistent private hive names in your notebook so a later conversation makes sense. If you are arranging a visit, ask the inspector what location and access information they need; do not assume the terminology on this site matches the official system.
A concern cannot wait for an account tidy-up
Registering or changing an account is separate from reporting a suspected notifiable pest or disease. GOV.UK says to notify the NBU or local bee inspector immediately if you suspect one. Use its current country-specific contact information. See brood disease concerns and Asian hornet reporting for the relevant routes. Do not wait for the next routine inspection or for an account query to be resolved.
Sources and further reading
Editorial review: 2026-11-02. Follow the original guidance if it changes.