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Shipton-under-Wychwood is a large Cotswold limestone village in the Evenlode valley, close to the remnant Wychwood Forest that once covered much of west Oxfordshire and whose ancient oak, ash and hazel coppice blocks survive as nationally important ancient woodland between Charlbury and Shipton. The Evenlode corridor and the limestone field patterns around Ascott-under-Wychwood and Milton-under-Wychwood give local colonies a varied Cotswold forage: hawthorn on the old field boundaries in May, the substantial early-summer flow from the Wychwood oak and ash canopy where aphid honeydew can supplement blossom, bramble on the woodland edges and verges through July, and a dependable ivy flow on the limestone walls and old churchyard trees through October.

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.