THERE are some unusual visitors in Blackbird Leys creating a bit of a buzz.

And they have been particularly welcome for Russell Price, 68, who has used his resident bees to create his own honey.

The Pegasus Road resident has just enjoyed a second summer of producing jars of honey for the community, created from the flowers on the estate’s own green spaces.

Mr Price, who recently retired from his charity job at Cowley-based Church Mission Society, said: “Because I had kept bees in the past, I had some old equipment that was just sitting out in the garden.

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“Then we noticed the bees had moved into the hive. The swarm was obviously satisfied with it and made themselves comfortable.”

The surprise guests have made themselves useful, however.

Mr Price said: “Last year we had about 100 jars of honey. This year there was a bug that killed a lot of them off so I had 50 jars this year.

“Some of that I take to the Leys Community Market to sell. It’s good to be able to support the local community, and the rest I give to friends and family.”

Mr Price’s swarm has between 20,000 and 50,000 bees, depending on the time of year.

He said: “It’s great fun, but demanding. I need to check on them every few days. They are livestock, not just insects.

“You have to look after them.

“They are fascinating when you open the hive up, doing their dance and working for the queen. It’s amazing how they somehow organise themselves.

“It’s wonderful to see a new worker bee coming out of a cell for the first time, breaking the wax seal.”

He added: “People tend to be frightened of bees but on the whole they are fairly docile.”

Mr Price, who lives with his wife Sue, 67, said his honey is definitely flavoured with the pollen of Blackbird Leys.

“The bees do well, partly because there are so many trees across the whole of Blackbird Leys. Our bees get lots of their honey from the lime trees. It’s like living in a garden village.

“They fly for a couple of miles around. We’re near the Spindleberry Nature Reserve in Blackbird Leys and in spring there are thousands of dandelions on the fields, which they love. They also go to holly bushes and willow trees, and to the flowers in people’s gardens.

“I think the honey has got a distinctive flavour to it, a little bit of a tang. People who buy it like and come back to get more.”


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