Skep Bees

I spent a very enjoyable day with Chris Parks of Acorn Education last weekend. Chris teaches prehistoric technology and builds Iron Age roundhouses. As you do.




We started with a bit of wattling, then in the afternoon helped him with his bees. He keeps some of them in skeps, as was the old way. The cluster of bees on the outside meant that they were getting ready to swarm. By tapping the old skep we encouraged the swarm to crawl up into their new home.





I risked getting stung and slipped the camera into the new skep. The bees hung together in bridges, selflessly providing their fellow citizens with a way into the new hive. Bees were everywhere, the sound overwhelming and more than a little scary.




I wasn't prepared for the sheer force of the bees. They weren't aggressive, just ferocious. We didn't 'tell' them, but Chris sang to them. It was all rather magical.

Andy xxx

Oxford Punt

Don't forget the Oxford Punt tonight. We're on at the Malmaison Hotel, 9.15pm. See you down there xxx

Fithfath video

Here we are playing Fithfath at Oxford's legendary Catweazle Club, just before the Folk Festival...

Website back online

In all the excitement of May I, erm, forgot to renew our web hosting. Yup, we are a fallible cottage industry alright.

Anyway, sorry if you've been trying to find our website. We are now back online.

Andy xxx

Oxford Folk Festival photos

Here are some photos of our Oxford Folk Festival gig taken by my soon to be sister-in-law, the marvellous Maddy Mcleod. Rather good, are they not?

A Merry May Morning

We were all out in force yesterday morning, celebrating the return of summer on Oxford's streets. We were part of a bigger street band that Andy organises, The Whirly Band, formed just for this occasion, playing on the Bodleian Steps at 6am to the assembled crowds. Rude, rumbustious and revellious. Happy May one and all!