Want to know what eco-y things are going on locally now and into the new year? Well, how’s this for starters?:

December
⑮	Nature Hour | Fri 15th Dec, 10.30-11.30am | Moorside Place, The Moors (OX52UZ)  – Join us for a ‘Nature Hour’ led by Wild Kidlington officer Rhiannon Young. After a short nature talk on the topic of the day there’ll be a related nature-based activity to enjoy. This event is open to the public and is suitable for all ages and abilities. We meet in the lounge area next to the Willow Tree Cafe.
⑯	Nearly New Sale | Sat 16th Dec, 10am-3pm | Kidlington Methodist Church, Oxford Rd (OX5 2BP) – St Peter’s Players are holding a Nearly New Stall at Kidlington Methodist Church, Oxford Road, Kidlington to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. There will be a wide array of items, perfect for Christmas gifts. Refreshments will be available.
㉓	Cherwell Collective’s Big Lunch at Christmas | Sat 23rd Dec, 11am-2pm | Exeter Hall (OA5 1AB) – All are welcome to join this festive lunch for the community, complete with live music and catered with delicious and sustainable food by Climatarian Kitchen. Pay-what-you-can for the meal at the door – no set fee, donations only. Book a ticket to reserve your spot as seats are limited. If you’d like to reserve a ticket but can’t afford the £5 fee to book please get in touch via marketing.cherwellcollective@gmail.com.
2024
January 2024
③	Kidlington Gardening Society Talk | Weds 3rd Jan, 7.30pm | Exeter Hall, small hall (OA5 1AB)  – Come along and hear from this month’s guest speaker. More info here!
⑤+	January Walk & Talks | Every Friday in Jan (5th, 12th, 19th & 26th), 12pm | Exeter Hall, main entrance (OA5 1AB) – Whatever the time of year, walking strengthens your bones, lifts your mood and helps keep your heart healthy. Cherwell District Council are organising these walks on every Friday in January. They will last between 20 – 60 mins, and follow pavements around the Zoo Trails, finishing at Exeter Hall for a hot drink and/or (pay what you can) lunch. No booking required. Wear sensible footwear and wrap up warm!
⑪	KEG Meeting | Thurs 11th Jan, 1pm | Exeter Hall, small hall (OA5 1AB) – Join representatives of different local eco groups and enthusiasts to connect, communicate and collaborate. This month we’ll be looking ahead and dreaming a little about what 2024 might hold.
February 2024
①	KEG Meeting | Thurs 1st Feb, 1pm | Exeter Hall, small hall (OA5 1AB) – Join representatives of different local eco groups and enthusiasts to connect, communicate and collaborate.
③	St Mary’s Fields Work Party | Sat 3rd Feb, 10am-12pm | St Mary’s carpark (OX52AZ) – Join the team of volunteers working on some spring tasks to encourage nature and monitor river quality. Also enjoy a well-earned slice of Julia or Rosie’s homemade cake at half time!
⑦	Kidlington Gardening Society Talk | Weds 7th Feb, 7.30pm | Exeter Hall, small hall (OA5 1AB)  – Come along and hear from this month’s guest speaker. More info here!
⑩	Coronation Garden Work Party | Sat 10th Feb, 10am-12pm | Home Close (OX5 2DN) – Come along and join other volunteers as we care for and beautify this new community garden.
⑰	Park Hill Monthly Garden Work Party | Sat 17th Feb, 10am – 12pm| Park Hill Recreation Ground (OX5 2DA) – Come and muck in with other volunteers as we maintain and enrich this community green space and Harvest@Home project!

And don’t forget there’s great stuff going on every week!

When & Where?		What?
Thursdays, 11am-2pm Exeter Hall, Oxford Rd (OA5 1AB)		Cherwell Larder Marketplace – Get some food saved from landfill, and sample tasty cooked food from the Climatarian KitchenHarvest @ Home Seed Swap – Swap your surplus seeds and get planting
Fridays, 10am-12pm Between Oxford Rd & Hazel Crescent (OX5 1ED)		Hazel Walk Community Allotments Work Party – Join the Harvest @ Home volunteers growing food for themselves and the community while caring for the nature on the plot.
Fridays, 11am-2pm Exeter Hall (OA5 1AB)		Cherwell Larder Marketplace – Get some food saved from landfill, and sample tasty cooked food from the Climatarian Kitchen
Saturdays, 11am-2pmExeter Hall (OA5 1AB)		Cherwell Larder Marketplace – Get some food saved from landfill, and sample tasty cooked food from the Climatarian Kitchen

Local Eco News

Some headlines since the last update…

No Waste Noel & Keg Stalls – As part of Cherwell Collective’s No Waste Noel event on the 2nd December (a bonanza of stalls selling Christmas gifts made from repurposed materials with Christmassy entertainment and food galore) KEG put on some stalls publicising some of the great eco things going on in the community. There were various nature crafts to take part in and these were enjoyed by young and old alike, and we were joined by friends from Cosy Homes and Energy Advice from the Low Carbon Hub. A mistletoe give away also went down particularly well! Though facilitating romance isn’t officially one of KEG’s shared values – hey! It’s Christmas!

Winter Work – Despite the cold, valiant volunteers braved the wilds of St Mary’s Fields at the beginning of December to plant trees (or at least those they were able to prise out of their frozen pots!), spread wood chippings, and fence off saplings in order to protect them from the nibblings of deerkind. The team will have a breather over January and reassemble in February.

Coronation Garden – Having now been established through the cumulative efforts of the parish council, Wild Kidlington, Bunkers Hill, and community volunteers the garden is now all set for 2024. The hope is to establish a regular rhythm of monthly work parties from February 10th (10am-12pm) to keep it tip top and encourage flower, fauna, and biodiversity in the coming months. If you’d like to join in save the date or contact the parish council for more info.

If you have any local eco news or events to feed in to our next monthly digest please email: kidlingtonecogroup@gmail.com

Our next KEG meeting is on Thurs 11th Jan (a week later than usual), from 1pm @ Exeter Hall (in the small hall). We’ll be concocting a few dreams and plans for 2024. All welcome!