Local Eco News 📰
Spring has come full hale and hearty, and it’s time for your favorite monthly update!
Wild Kidlington Celebration & Birthday Tea
On Saturday 29th March the 3rd anniversary of Wild Kidlington was celebrated with a thank you for volunteers who had helped make the project work over the last 3 years: all the wildlife wanders, bat and swift walk capers, open wild gardens, hedgehog highways, eco fayres, and green space biodiversity boost bonanzas. Whilst prosecco was sipped and cake supped, Rhiannon, our illustrious Wild Kidlington officer gave a speech with trademark bubbliness, and Cllr Lesley McLean delivered a vote of thanks on behalf of the Parish and Cherwell District Councils. Sadly there’s not as much funding available moving forwards, so the shape of the project is changing, but Rhiannon will still be around one day a week as well as running a slew of additional events to engage the community and nurture wildlife.
Park Hill Growing Space Developments
In the last Monthly Digest you will have read how Park Hill Growing Space volunteers had planted new native hedging to replace some long deceased Elder trees. Over March fruit bushes were added and four plum trees with snowbells round their bases planted – all thanks to extra funding from Cherwell District Council. And not just that, more wood-chipping, a new sign, and an extra picnic bench has been added, just in time for sunnier days. And we haven’t even mentioned the seed planting for this years veg harvest! If you’d like to come along and join the team – the next session is on the 19th Apr from 10am-12pm, with half time hot drinks and nibbles provided. And remember Park Hill isn’t the only Growing Space! To find out more see the calendar below and come along to one of the sessions or drop Ruth an email to find out more, via growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk.
Coronation Garden – Micro Sanctuary for the Weary Soul
The fantastic team of Coronation Garden volunteers have also been sprucing up Kidlington’s youngest garden on the corner of the High Street and Home Close (just along from Tesco). New flowers and hedging have been planted and a new cycle of flowers are fast emerging. The garden and the benches have become a welcome stopping place for tired villagers to rest awhile or meditatively tuck into a lunch break sandwich. If you’ve not sampled it yourself, why not come and enjoy a quiet moment in the middle of your busy day?! If you’d like to help the team keep this spot tip top please get in touch with Cllr Alison Street via alison.street@kidlington-pc.gov.uk and she’ll link you in.
Calendar 📆
Want to know what ecological things are going on locally over the next few weeks?
| April 2025 | |
| ⑤ | St Mary’s Fields Work Party | Sat 5th Mar, 10am-12pm | St Mary’s carpark (OX5 2BA) – Join the team of volunteers working on some more Spring tasks, encourage nature and monitor river quality. Also enjoy a well-earned slice of Julia or Rosie’s homemade cake at half time! |
| ⑦ | Growing Spaces Gardening Session | Mon 7th April, 10-11am | Exeter Close Play Area (OX5 1AB) – Tidying the wildlife-friendly flower beds after winter. All very welcome; tools provided; no experience necessary. For more info contact growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk |
| ⑧ | Kidlington Towpath Taskforce | Tues 8th Apr, 10am-2pm | Roundham Lock, Partridge Place OX5 1SL – Come and help improve the canal environment through Kidlington at these drop-in volunteer working parties run by Canal & River Trust. Something for all skill levels. Come for all or part of the time. Sign-up at Canal & River Trust Minimum age 18. |
| ⑩ | Woodland Trust Stratfield Brake Task Group | Thurs 10th Apr, 10am-1pm | Stratfield Brake, Frieze Way (OX5 1UP) – Sign up to help carry out a variety of practical tasks under the guidance of the Woodland Trust Site Manager, to keep the site looking great and pathways accessible, as well as help manage the woodland in line with management plans. A great way to learn skills and meet new people, the Working Group also directly contributes to the care and upkeep of valuable habitats. Volunteers need to sign up via the Woodland Trust volunteers page here. |
| ⑲ | Park Hill Monthly Garden Work Party | Sat 19th April, 10am – 12pm| Park Hill Recreation Ground (OX5 2DA) – Come and join the volunteers planting, socialising and developing the community garden space in the park. For more info contact growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk |
| ㉔ | Annual Parish Meeting | Thurs 24th April, 7pm | Exeter Hall (OX5 1AB) – Come along to see what your local parish council has been supporting and funding. There’ll be various stalls about various local groups and initiatives including our beloved KEG. |
| ㉖ | Eco-Café | St Mary’s Church, Church Street (OX5 2BB) | 10:30 to Noon – Come along for St Mary’s monthly café in the church – with tea, coffee, conversation about things ecological and, well, anything else you want to chat about. |
| ㉘ | Growing Spaces Gardening Session | Mon 28th April, 10-11am | Lyne Road Green (OX5 1AE) – Gentle gardening, tending the community planters on the green. All very welcome; tools provided; no experience necessary. For more info contact growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk |
| ㉘ | Growing Spaces Gardening Session | Mon 28th April, 7.30-8.30pm | Ron Groves Play Area (OX5 1HW) – All very welcome as we tidy and tend the planters in the park; tools provided; no experience necessary. For more info contact growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk |
| May 2025 | |
| ① | KEG Meeting | Thurs 1st May, 1pm | Exeter Hall, in the Small Hall or Bar (OX5 1AB) – Join representatives of different local eco groups and enthusiasts to connect, communicate and collaborate. |
| ③ | St Mary’s Fields Work Party | Sat 3rd May, 10am-12pm | St Mary’s carpark (OX5 2BA) – Join the team of volunteers working on some late Spring tasks, encourage nature and monitor river quality. Also enjoy a well-earned slice of Julia or Rosie’s homemade cake at half time! |
| ④ | Dawn Chorus Walk | Sun 4th May, 4.45am | St Mary’s carpark (OX5 2BA) – Get up with the lark and join us for this early morning stroll through the growing soundscape of a dawn chorus! We’ll be trying to identify the calls of the birds from the first tweet to the final chirp! More info to follow! |
| ⑥ | Kidlington Towpath Taskforce | Tues 6th May, 10am-2pm | Roundham Lock, Partridge Place OX5 1SL – Come and help improve the canal environment through Kidlington at these drop-in volunteer working parties run by Canal & River Trust. Something for all skill levels. Come for all or part of the time. Sign-up at Canal & River Trust Minimum age 18. |
| ⑦ | Kidlington Gardening Society | Weds 7th May, 7.30pm | Exeter Hall, small hall (OX5 1AB) – Our speaker David White will be sharing with us on the topic of Bird Watching. All welcome, non-members £3, refreshments 50p. |
| ⑧ | Woodland Trust Stratfield Brake Task Group | Thurs 8th May, 10am-1pm | Stratfield Brake, Frieze Way (OX5 1UP) – Sign up to help carry out a variety of practical tasks under the guidance of the Woodland Trust Site Manager, to keep the site looking great and pathways accessible, as well as help manage the woodland in line with management plans. A great way to learn skills and meet new people, the Working Group also directly contributes to the care and upkeep of valuable habitats. Volunteers need to sign up via the Woodland Trust volunteers page here. |
| ⑩ | Kidlington Gardening Society 10.00-12.00 Exeter Hall small hall – Plant and Cake. Sale All welcome, free entry. |
| ⑯ | Evening Chorus Walk | Fri 16th May, 7.30pm | St Mary’s carpark (OX5 2BA) – Save the date and tune in to hear the sweet music of our feathery neighbours. More info to follow! |
| ⑰ | Park Hill Monthly Garden Work Party | Sat 17th May, 10am – 12pm| Park Hill Recreation Ground (OX5 2DA) – Come and join the volunteers planting, socialising and developing the community garden space in the park. For more info contact growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk |
| ㉔ | Eco-Café | St Mary’s Church, Church Street (OX5 2BB) | 10:30 to Noon – Come along for St Mary’s monthly café in the church – with tea, coffee, conversation about things ecological and, well, anything else you want to chat about. |
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 May, from 1pm @ Exeter Hall in the committee room. All welcome!
Kidlington Eco Group 
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