Chipping Norton is the highest town in Oxfordshire, its stone market square set on the Cotswold plateau above the Evenlode and Glyme valleys. The surrounding limestone arable carries a substantial oilseed rape flow, the ancient hedgerow hawthorn and blackthorn of the Wychwood Forest fringe near Charlbury add classic Cotswold woodland character, and the flower-rich limestone grassland of the old quarry pastures and road verges towards Great Tew and Heythrop give a late-season forage richness unusual in an agricultural setting.
Collectors around Chipping Norton regularly attend swarms in the garden and orchard hedgerows of the town and surrounding stone villages, in the limestone farmyard and barn-roof cavities of the Cotswold plateau farms, in the chimney stacks of the older wool-trade and market-town stone properties, and in the ancient hedgerow oaks and hawthorns of the Wychwood fringe.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
GL56 0UN· approx. 7 km
OX15 5HZ· approx. 13 km
Visit websiteOX20 1LP· approx. 17 km
Visit websiteAssociation data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
Spring opens on blackthorn, hawthorn and cherry plum along the stone hedges of the Cotswolds fringe and the chalk lynchets of the Vale. Oilseed rape is locally significant in Cherwell and South Oxfordshire. Beech in the Chilterns contributes to a huge honeydew-flavoured June flow some years, while lime avenues fill central Oxford and the larger market towns. Bramble, rosebay willowherb and field bean carry July; ivy along the Thames valley walls and the old college gardens closes the year.
More on beekeeping in OxfordshireReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
