Local Eco News 📰
Looking for eco-ish stuff to do this summer? Interested to find out some of the great stuff that’s been happening over the last month or so. Well have no fear – KEG’s August guide is here!
Kidlington Towpath Task Force First Birthday
How time flies! Kidlington’s Canal Towpath Task Force has been going for an entire year! If you’ve taken a stroll along the canal in recent months you may have noticed the improvements being steadily made. This month’s gathering involved erecting new fencing, litter picking and foliage clearance. For more info see our devoted page here or head over to the Canal and River Trust website.
GREEN LANE @ KIDLINGTON GALA DAY
From 11am-3pm on Saturday 19th July it was Kidlington’s annual Gala Day. Despite the decidedly ominous weather forecast the event ended up being a mostly dry and entirely merry occasion. A staple feature of the day was ‘Green Lane’ – a gaggle of gazebos committed to profiling some of the great ecologically- and conservation-minded groups in the village. KEG was there of course – particularly plugging our Draught Busters project and Green Open Homes event in November – but there was also the Canal & River Trust, Wild Oxfordshire, Growing Spaces, St Mary’s Fields, Kidlington Abundance, Cherwell Swifts, Butterfly Conservation, and the Oxford Badger Group – who brought along a very rare species of dancing badger (Latin name meles saltans)…
Park Hill’s Biodiversity, Sunflowers, SIgns & Exiting New Pavilion Thingy
As you will see from the gallery of pics below, Park Hill has been seen some lovely signs (as made by Bob and hand-painted by Gosford students) pop up to let people know what’s growing this season. If you happen to pop by, please do help yourself to a courgette and cherry tom or two. Sunflowers have also shot up, as has the new pavilion (almost finished!) that has been funded by CDC and constructed by ACE training.
On Saturday 2nd Aug there was also a Park Hill wildlife recording sesh with Rhiannon from Wild Oxfordshire, clocking up observations on the iNaturalist app. If you have it, why not use the interactive map to see what they found – and add a few of your own. Gathering data like this helps empirically document trends in biodiversity. Go citizen science!
Rhiannon’s got lots of other activities planned over the summer, as you can see from this here poster:
Calendar 📆
Want to know what ecological things are going on locally over the next few weeks? Well here you go!
| Aug 2025 | |
| ⑦ | KEG Meeting | Thurs 7th Aug, 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. |
| ⑫ | Kidlington Library Nature Hour: ‘Helping wild bees’ | Tues 12th Aug, 10-11.30am | Kidlington Library, 23 Oxford Rd, Kidlington (OX5 2BP) – All-age fun for everyone. Book your place at the KIdlington Library. |
| ⑭ | Woodland Trust Stratfield Brake Task Group | Thurs 14th Aug, 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. |
| ⑯ | Park Hill Monthly Garden Work Party | Sat 16th Aug, 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 |
| ㉓ | Eco-Café | Sat 23rd Aug, 10:30 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. |
| ㉔ | Big Hay Rake | Sun 24th Aug, 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 | Kidlington Library Nature Hour: ‘The Magic of Nature’ | Tues 26th Aug, 10-11.30am | Kidlington Library, 23 Oxford Rd, Kidlington (OX5 2BP) – From wands and spells, to folklore and hidden animal talents. All-age fun for everyone. Book your place at the KIdlington Library. |
| ㉘ | |
| Sep 2025 | |
| ① | Exeter Close Play Area Growing Space Session | Mon 1st Sep, 10 – 11am| Exeter Close Play Area (OX5 1AB) – Come and join the volunteers planting, socialising and developing the community garden space in the play area. For more info contact growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk |
| ② | Kidlington Towpath Taskforce | Tues 2nd Sep, 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 via the Canal & River Trust Portal. Minimum age 18. |
| ③ | Kidlington Gardening Society | Weds 3rd Sep, 7.30pm | Exeter Hall, small hall (OX5 1AB) – Speaker Andy Pedley will talk about Beekeeping. All welcome, non-members £3, refreshments 50p. |
| ④ | KEG Meeting | Thurs 4th Sep, 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. |
| ⑥ | St Mary’s Fields Work Party | Sat 6th Sep, 10am-12pm | St Mary’s carpark (OX5 2BA) – Join the team of volunteers working on late summer tasks, encourage nature and monitor river quality. Also enjoy a well-earned slice of Julia or Rosie’s homemade cake at half time! |
| ⑨ | Exeter Hall Planters Growing Space Session | Tues 9th Sep, 1.30 – 2.30pm| Exeter Hall (OX5 1AB) – Come and join the volunteers planting, socialising and developing the new accessible planters. For more info contact growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk |
| ⑪ | Woodland Trust Stratfield Brake Task Group | Thurs 11th Sep, 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. |
| ⑬ | Kidlington Repair Cafe | Sat 13th Sep, 10am-12pm | Kidlington Methodist Church, Oxford Rd (OX5 2BP) – Need to repair or restore an item? Drop in for repairs of electronics, household items, bicycles, textiles, toys etc. Also for restoring items, such as knife and tool sharpening. And a coffee while you wait! Last items taken at 11.30am. For more information see here. |
| ⑮ | Ron Groves Play Area Growing Space Session | Mon 15th Sep, 5.30-6.30pm| Exeter Close Play Area (OX5 1AB) – Come and join the volunteers planting, socialising and developing the community garden space in the play area. For more info contact growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk |
| ⑳ | Park Hill Monthly Garden Work Party | Sat 20th Sep, 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 |
| Kidlington Library Nature Hour: ‘Helping Hedgehogs’ | Tues 20th Sep, 2-3.30pm | Kidlington Library, 23 Oxford Rd, Kidlington (OX5 2BP) – All-age fun for everyone. Book your place at the KIdlington Library. Children must be accompanied by an adult. | |
| ㉗ | Eco-Café | Sat 27th Sep, 10:30 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 | Lyne Road Green Growing Space Session | Mon 29th Sep, 10 – 11am| Lyne Road Green (OX5 1UA) – Come and join the volunteers planting, socialising and developing the community garden space on the Green. For more info contact growspace@kidlington-pc.gov.uk |
If you have any local eco news or events to feed in to our next monthly digest please email: kidlingtonecogroup@gmail.com
Our upcoming KEG meetings are on Thurs 7th Aug and 4th Sep, from 1pm @ Exeter Hall in the committee room. All welcome!
Kidlington Eco Group 
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