Here's a Christmas present with a difference - honey made by bees visiting gardens in the Shaw area of West Swindon.

Kaz and Danny Kobylec started keeping bees three years ago when a swarm arrived near their home on Old Shaw Lane. Unable to get anyone to remove it Kaz literally took things into his own hands by collecting the bees and taking them back to his garden. They have since gone on to win many awards including a first prize at the Wiltshire Honey Show.

The taste of honey depends on the flowers that the bees collect nectar from. For example, clover and fruit blossom give a light, mild flavour whereas hawthorn gives a dark, rich honey. Kaz explained, "Many supermarket honeys are blended from cheap honey mixed with something like acacia to give it some flavour. Our honey has flavours you won't get from a supermarket honey."

As the bees roam up to two miles from the hive, the flavour of Shaw House honey comes from the nectar produced by flowers growing in West Swindon gardens. Keeping bees is not as hazardous as it sounds. "Honey bees are quite placid so long as you keep them fed," said Kaz. They also have an apiary on the Marlborough Downs that produces further varieties. The honey is produced to strict EU regulations as bees are classed as animals rather than insects because they produce food for human consumption.

As well as being a natural sweetener honey also contains vitamins, calcium and minerals. Some of Kaz and Danny's regular customers buy honey for its medicinal properties for conditions such as hay fever, asthma and as a natural antibiotic. If a thin smear of honey is rubbed on a wound it will dry to form a covering with germ killing properties.

It's more than the thought that counts in Shaw House honey. In each jar is both the effort of all those hard working bees and the talents of local gardeners. And this unusual gift will also give good health to the receiver.

The wet summer means stocks of Shaw House honey is limited, but Kaz and Danny have honey from their Marlborough hives and other local beekeepers. A pot of honey costs £2.20 from Shaw House, 21 Old Shaw Lane, Swindon.

To purchase by mail, send a cheque made out to Mr Kobylec and add £2.50 post and packing (UK); £5 (Europe); £12 (rest of the world)