Local Eco News 📰
Gosh it’s hot! The summer’s in full swing, and just as hot off the press, here’s KEG’s June guide to what eco stuff has been, and is, going on in Kidlington this month!
Cubs Spotted at Park Hill!
The Mowgli Cub pack from 33rd Oxford found their way to Park Hill Rec this week for an encounter with the great outdoors. First they had a tour around the wilds of Park Hill copse with Rhiannon of Wild Oxfordshire fame, and then they gave a helping hand to Ruth from Kidlington Growing Spaces in the community garden. Thanks Cubs! (you know, they always seem to be doing their best that lot).
New Interpretation Board at St Mary’s Fields!
Saturday 14th June saw the official unveiling of the long planned and eagerly anticipated new interpretation board for St Mary’s Field’s Nature Reserve. The event, at which the Chair of the Parish Council, Lesley McLean, unveiled the board was part of Great Big Green Week and celebrated 25 years of this very special place. Information about the history and habitats of the reserve, as well hopes for the future were shared (along with hearty portions of homemade cake).
Have your Say 📢
On the topic of St Mary’s Fields and its environs, Bloombridge LLP has recently submitted a planning application to build 340 houses on some of the nearby fields – AKA the land behind the Moors. Details of the application can be found here. Kidlington Development Watch are objecting and have issued a guide to the proposed development which you can access here.
What’s your take on it? It’s time to have your say!
There are three ways in which you can submit a comment:
- Online at the CDC’s planning portal by clicking here.
- By sending an email to: planning@cherwell-dc.gov.uk
- By writing to: Planning, Cherwell District Council, Bodicote House, Bodicote, Banbury OX15 4AA.
The planning portal will ask for your details. If you email or write you will need to include the following (otherwise your comment won’t be accepted):
- The planning application number: 25/01346/OUT
- Your full name, first and last names
- Your address including postcode
The deadline for submitting a comment is: Thursday 26 June 2025.
[NB. This has since been extended to Monday 14th July 2025]
Calendar 📆
Want to know what ecological things are going on locally over the next few weeks?
| June 2025 | |
| ㉑ | Park Hill Monthly Garden Work Party | Sat 21st Jun, 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 |
| ㉘ | Eco-Café | Sat 28th Jun, 10:30am to Noon | St Mary’s Church, Church Street (OX5 2BB) – 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. |
| ㉙ | The Energy Transition: A View From The Future | Sun 29th June, 2-4pm | Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate’s, Oxford (OX1 1BX) – Join the Low Carbon Hub for a celebration of all that we’ve achieved together. Enjoy a tasty afternoon tea, and meet other investors, community members, and project partners. The transition to net zero is accelerating, bringing transformative changes to how we generate, distribute, and use energy. This shift will impact not only energy networks – the wires and switches – but also households and businesses, shaping how we interact with energy in daily life. For more details, find out about the guest speakers, and/or book a space see here |
| ㉚ | Growing Spaces Gardening Session | Mon 30th June, 10-11am | Lyne Road Green (OX5 1AE) – Join us as we meet to tend the community planters on the green. All very welcome; tools provided; no experience necessary. For more info contact growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk |
| July 2025 | |
| ① | Kidlington Towpath Taskforce | Tues 1st July, 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. |
| ③ | KEG Meeting | Thurs 3rd July, 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. |
| Swift Walk | Thurs 3rd July, 8pm (TBC) | Starting point TBC – Join us for a wildlife walk in the village to see swifts as part of Swift Awareness Week (28th June – 5th July). Starting with an introduction to these special birds, and then a gentle walk stopping at key nesting sites. In partnership with the Cherwell swift project. More details to follow. Keep an eye out for our eventbrite sign up page here. Please note: If weather is bad the back up date will be the following Tuesday (8th July) | |
| ⑦ | Growing Spaces Wildlife Wander | Mon 7th July, 10am-12pm – Join us for this growing spaces wildlife wander with Wild Oxfordshire: celebrating nature’s corridors. Meet at Exeter Hall at 10am. A gentle wander going from the growing spaces near Exeter Hall to Lyne Road Green taking in all the underappreciated wildlife along the way. Contact: growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk or rhiannon@wildoxfordshire.org.uk |
| ⑩ | Woodland Trust Stratfield Brake Task Group | Thurs 10th July, 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. |
| ⑮ | Growing Spaces Gardening Session | Tues 15th 1.30-2.15pm | Planters at the back of Exeter Hall – Gentle gardening in the accessible planters opposite the GP surgery. Contact: growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk |
| ⑲ | The Green Lane @ Kidlington Gala Day | Sat 19th July, 11am-3pm | Exeter Hall & Close (OX5 1AB) – Come along to this free community fun day with all sorts of fun activities for all ages. While there check out the Parish Council’s ‘Green Lane’ with interactive stalls showcasing the work of community groups geared to ecological issues and encouraging biodiversity. |
| 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 July 10-11am | Lyne Road Green – Join in with growing flowers and veg for the community. Contact: growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk |
| Wild Oxfordshire & Growing Spaces Session | Mon 28th July 7-8.30pm | Ron Groves Park – Wildlife & gardening activities for families. Contact: rhiannon@wildoxfordshire.org.uk or growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk | |
Oh and Here’s a Reminder of Great Eco Stuff Going on Every Single Week
| When, Where & What? |
| TUESDAYS – SATURDAYS, 10am-2pm | 4 The Parade, Kidlington, OX5 1EE WISH Museum of Climate Action – Drop in to this exhibition space and shop of repurposed products run by the Waste Innovation Station (WISH). Exhibits include repurposed items, and WISH-made creations crafted from waste plastics, textiles and musical equipment. |
| EVERY THURSDAY, 11am-2pm | Exeter Hall, Oxford Rd, OX5 1AB Cherwell Larder Marketplace – Get some food saved from landfill, and sample tasty cooked food from the Climatarian Kitchen |
| EVERY FRIDAY, 10am-12pm | Between Oxford Rd & Hazel Crescent, OX5 1ED Hazel Walk Community Allotments Work Party – Join the friendly team growing food for themselves and the community while caring for the nature on the plot. |
| EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY, 11am-2pm | 4 The Parade, Kidlington, OX5 1EE (school holidays – Exeter Hall, Oxford Rd, OX5 1AB) Cherwell Pop-up Larder – Get some food saved from landfill, and check out the exhibition while you’re at it! |
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 3rd July, from 1pm @ Exeter Hall in the committee room. All welcome!
Kidlington Eco Group 
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