Local Eco News
Some headlines since the last update…
New Wild Kidlington Project Video – Wild Kidlington has produced this great video introducing the project and some of the great things going on in Kidlington – enjoy!
Green Lane @ Gala Day – Last Saturday a number of conservation and environmentally themed organisations (including KEG) were out in force along the ‘Green Lane’ at Kidlington Gala Day. Apart from one brief deluge the day was (thankfully!) much drier than last year, and lots of people stopped by to engage on their way to the petting zoo and zorbing! Worth a special mention was a new stall plugging the local Growing Spaces, and the Canal and River Trust who were there garnering support for the launch of the Kidlington Towpath Taskforce (the first session of which will be on Tues 6th Aug – see calendar below for more details).
KEG Questions to Parliamentary Candidates – In the run up to the General Election earlier this month, KEG sent the parliamentary candidates for our new constituency questions on ten environmentally-related topics. We were encouraged to receive responses from many of them and their answers can be read here – including those of Calum Miller who has since been elected as MP. CPRE also organised a environmentally themed hustings locally in Yarnton and it was encouraging to see the candidates meaningfully discussing and engaging with these crucial issues for local and national policy.
Swift Walks – Back by popular demand and as part of celebrating the national Swift Awareness Week, Cherwell Swift Project and Wild Kidlington ran a series of Swift walks over the first two weeks of July. It was a lovely opportunity to hear from local volunteer Richard Abernethy about these extraordinary creatures that can spend months on the wing and sleep whilst flying. It was also great to hear about the efforts of local enthusiasts to encourage nesting and boost our local swift population during the summer months.
Eco Themed Art Work Unveiled – During Kidlington Baptist Church’s annual Climate Sunday service on the 14th July a new artwork was unveiled by guest speaker Polly Eaton from the Christian eco charity A Rocha. It consists of 4 pictures made up of 32 hand painted tiles portraying different endangered UK species. The images were drawn by local artist Sarah Nobbs and painted by children and young people in the church and community.
Coming Up…
Want to know what ecological things are going on locally over the summer holidays?
Well here you go then!:
| July 2024 | |
| ㉕ | Free School Holiday Activity – Family Planting | Thurs 25th July, 11am-2pm | Exeter Hall (OX5 1AB) – Come along and get inspired by connecting with nature and growing your own. Engage in hands-on family friendly activities. Planting, seed-match and composting games. This is a Cherwell Collective event. For more info see their facebook page. |
| ㉖ | Free School Holiday Activity – Family Planting | Fri 26th July, 11am-2pm | Exeter Hall (OX5 1AB) – A second day of drop-in family planting fun. For more info see their facebook page. |
| ㉙ | Growing Spaces Gardening Session | Mon 29th July, 10-11am | Lyne Road Green (OX5 1AE) – All welcome as we tend to the planters together! For more info contact growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk |
| August 2024 | |
| ① | Wildlife Wander with bug hunt | Thurs 1st Aug, 11am – 12pm | Lyne Road Green (OX5 1AE) – The first of Wild Kidlington’s summer ‘Wildlife Wanders’ events. Join us for a fun-filled Wildlife Wander with bug hunt, where we explore nature, search for creepy crawlies, and learn about this fascinating hidden world of activity. To find out more or sign up visit the eventbrite page here. |
| KEG Meeting | Thurs 1st Aug, 1pm | Exeter Hall, small hall (OX5 1AB) – Join representatives of different local eco groups and enthusiasts to connect, communicate and collaborate. | |
| ② | Magic themed wildlife wander | Fri 2nd Aug, 2 – 3pm | Park Hill Recreation Ground (OX5 2DA) – Another of Wild Kidlington’s summer ‘Wildlife Wanders’ events. Focusing on myths, legends and the wizarding world of Harry Potter, come and enjoy this spellbinding wildlife wander at Park Hill Copse. To find out more or sign up visit the eventbrite page here. |
| ⑥ | Towpath Taskforce | Tues 6th Aug, 10am-2pm | Roundham Lock, Partridge Place OX5 1SL – Come and help improve the canal environment through Kidlington at these new drop-in volunteer working parties run by Canal & River Trust. First up is improvement work at Roundham Lock where we will be doing a full maintenance job: Managing vegetation, painting, greasing, lock adjustments, replacing anti-slip boards, etc. Something for all skill levels. Sign-up at Canal & River Trust Minimum age 18. |
| ⑦ | Kidlington Gardening Society Outing / Visit | Weds 7th Aug | Venue TBC – More info to follow – watch this space! |
| ⑩ | Wildlife Wander with gardening & building an insect home to keep | Sat, 10th Aug, 10am – 12pm | Park Hill Recreation Ground (OX5 2DA) – Another of Wild Kidlington’s summer ‘Wildlife Wanders’ events. Joining the Growing Spaces gardening session at Park Hill. Garden, do some nature detecting, and make an insect home to keep! Fun for all ages. To find out more or sign up visit the eventbrite page here. |
| Park Hill Monthly Garden Work Party | Sat 10th Aug, 10am – 12pm| Park Hill Recreation Ground (OX5 2DA) – Come and muck in with other volunteers as we maintain and enrich this community green space! For more info contact growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk | |
| ⑫ | Growing Spaces Gardening Session | Mon 12th Aug, 10-11am | Exeter Close Play Area (OX5 1AB) – Come and join in or just chat to us as we tend the beds with wildlife and people in mind! For more info contact growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk |
| ⑮ | Flower Fairy Guided Trail | Thurs 15th Aug, 11am – 12pm | St Mary’s Fields, Church St (OX5 2BA) – Another of Wild Kidlington’s summer ‘Wildlife Wanders’ events. A flower fairy themed guided wildlife wander around St Mary’s Fields. Can you find all the fairies? All ages welcome. To find out more or sign up visit the eventbrite page here. |
| ⑯ | Flower Fairy Guided Trail | Fri 16th Aug, 2pm – 3pm | St Mary’s Fields, Church St (OX5 2BA) – Another of Wild Kidlington’s summer ‘Wildlife Wanders’ events. A flower fairy themed guided wildlife wander around St Mary’s Fields. Can you find all the fairies? All ages welcome. To find out more or sign up visit the eventbrite page here. |
| ㉒ | Pokémon themed Wildlife Wander | Thurs 22nd Aug, 11am 12pm | Lyne Road Green (OX5 1AE) – Another of Wild Kidlington’s summer ‘Wildlife Wanders’ events. “Gotta catch ’em all!” On this wildlife wander, we’ll be exploring nature with a Pokémon theme. Discover the ‘powers’ of our local wildlife. To find out more or sign up visit the eventbrite page here. |
| ㉓ | Pokémon themed Wildlife Wander | Thurs 23rd Aug, 2-3pm | St Mary’s Fields, Church St (OX5 2BA) – Another of Wild Kidlington’s summer ‘Wildlife Wanders’ events. “Gotta catch ’em all!” On this wildlife wander, we’ll be exploring nature with a Pokémon theme. Discover the ‘powers’ of our local wildlife. To find out more or sign up visit the eventbrite page here. |
| ㉕ | Big Hay Rake | Sun 25th Aug 2024, 10am-12pm | St Mary’s Fields, Church St (OX5 2BA) – The annual hay rake on St Mary’s fields is a popular community event. After the grass in the meadows has been mown, it is essential to rake up the cuttings to encourage the wild flowers next spring. Some rakes provided, but if you have one please bring it! All ages welcome! Meet in the car park behind St Mary’s Church |
| ㉖ | Wildlife Wander with gardening & building an insect home to keep | Sat, 26th Aug, 10am – 12pm | Lyne Road Green (OX5 1AE) – Another of Wild Kidlington’s summer ‘Wildlife Wanders’ events. Joining the Growing Spaces gardening session at Lyne Rd Green. Garden, do some nature detecting, and make an insect home to keep! Fun for all ages. To find out more or sign up visit the eventbrite page here. |
| Growing Spaces Gardening Session | Mon 26th Aug, 10-11am | Lyne Road Green (OX5 1AE) – Come and join in or just chat to us as we tend the beds with wildlife and people in mind! For more info contact growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk | |
DRAUGHTBUSTERS NEEDED!
In the run up to the Autumn, KEG – with support from the Parish Council – is planning to set up a Draughtbusters project, inspired by similar projects elsewhere. Volunteer Draughtbusters will visit homes (identified through request or referral) and identify places where precious heat is being lost through draughts (e.g. letter boxes, window frame cavities, chimneys, door cracks etc). With the approval of the homeowner, and using simple techniques, they will then bust those drafts! We’ve recently been promised enough funding to get us off the ground and provide the tools and materials needed for our first year – this has come from the Low Carbon Hub and Cherwell District Council. We’re in particular need of:
- 4 x Draught Busters (2 pairs) – These will need to be people who could potentially be available in the daytime during the winter months (Sep-Mar) and have a bit of DIY savvy about them (though training would be provided).
- 1 x Administrator – Someone to organise the project and bookings.
If this opportunity to volunteer appeals (or if you have other skills and expertise you can offer) please let us know by emailing us at kidlingtonecogroup@gmail.com
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 1st Aug, from 1pm @ Exeter Hall in the small hall. All welcome!
Kidlington Eco Group 
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