Local Eco News 📰
Spring being well and truly sprung and all the daffadowndillies nodding in the hedgerows, it seemed time for another KEG monthly digest. Here’s a little smattering of news and our calendar of not-to-be-missed eco events.
HAPPY HAZEL HURDLING AT AXTELL CLOSE
Some of you might recall the community hazel coppicing that took place at Park Hill earlier in the year with help from Park Hill Growing Space, the Town (née Parish!) Council, and St Mary’s Fields volunteers? Well, if so, you’ll be glad to hear that all those lovely hazel stakes and binders were – as promised – subsequently woven into lovely hurdles / fencing at Axtel Close. Here are some of the snaps of our hurdling heroes hard at work:
ST MARY’S FIELDS MOSS-TASTIC CONSERVATION
St Mary’s Fields Kidlington conservation volunteers were doing some springtime tasks last month: laying dead hedging, clearing back foliage by the butterfly ride, taking river samples and eating cake. We also swotted up on our lichens, cos that’s how we roll. All the cool kids know the difference between their Farinose Cartilage and Dotted Ribbon these days. They can tell their Netted Shield from their Oakmoss. Yes siree.
GREAT FELICITY AT PARK HILL
The Park Hill Growing Spaces team was out and about earlier this month. Planting a Scarborough Fair’s worth of herbs in the new(ish) herb spiral, wood chipping paths, digging up Jerusalem artichokes, and – most exciting of all – planting out the new Felicity rose, provided by the wonderful… Felicity, to much accompanying felicity. The hope is that this climbing rose will quickly latch onto and ascend the new trellis which has been fixed on the back of the pagoda and bench. Watch out for the blossoming cherry and plum trees too, which have happily survived their first year, and occasional heat waves. Park Hill park is going from strength to strength!
WILD GARDENS OPEN DAY – Saturday 13th June 2026
KEG is planning a Wild Garden’s Open Day event in Kidlington as part of Great Big Green Week 2026. The idea is for local residents, allotment holders, and growing space volunteers who have adopted nature-encouraging measures in their gardens and green spaces to open them to visitors for several hours on Saturday 13th June, giving their neighbours the opportunity to see and be inspired by practical examples of biodiversity-boosting action in their own community.
The event aims to inspire residents by showcasing achievable steps such as wildlife-friendly gardening, rainwater use, and composting. Visitors will be able to speak directly with the hosts about their experiences, what worked well, and how changes were implemented. A similar event was run in 2024 as part of the Wild Kidlington project, but this year we’re flying solo. We’ve applied for and received a small grant to run the event from CAG Oxfordshire, so if you’d be up for helping to organise the event, and/or opening up your own garden please let us know via kidlingtonecogroup@gmail.com
Calendar 📆
Want to know what ecological things are going on locally over the next few weeks? Well here you go!
| Apr 2026 | |
| ⑨ | Woodland Trust Stratfield Brake Task Group | Thurs 9th 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. |
| ⑦ | Kidlington Towpath Taskforce | Tues 7th 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 via the Canal & River Trust Portal. Minimum age 18. |
| ⑪ | Kidlington Repair Cafe | Sat 11th Apr, 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. |
| Coronation Garden Work Party | Sat 11th Apr, 10am-12pm | Home Close (OX5 2DN) – Come along and join other volunteers as we look after the village’s youngest garden. We’ll be planting, weeding, and beautifying this already much-cherished oasis of calm in the heart of the village. | |
| ㉒ | Good Waste Charter Engagement Session(s) | Weds 22nd Apr, 10am-12pm | WISH, 4 The Parade (OX5 1EE) – WISH is hosting a series of Engagement Sessions to learn what our community needs to have better waste practices and experiences. Each session will build on the last to help co-create strategy to shape local policy. This will be the first of 3 sessions (6th May and 20th May), with lunch provided by the Climatarian Kitchen. To sign up / find out more see here. |
| ㉔ | City Nature Challenge | 24th – 27th April | Everywhere! – Join the epic, global mission to record as much wildlife as possible to help conservation efforts. No expertise needed, simply download the iNaturalist app and start recording your nature sightings no matter how big or small! Why not use the opportunity to go for a walk and swot up on how to contribute to conservation surveying? Recording species throughout the year at places like Park Hill Copse, St Mary’s Field, and along the Kidlington Canal Towpath using the iNaturalist app will also greatly help and contribute to local conservation efforts in Kidlington. |
| ㉕ | Community Litter Pick | Sat 25th Apr, 10am-12pm | Starting from Exeter Hall (OX5 1AB) – Join other community-minded volunteers as we make our local community spick and span. All equipment (gloves, sacks, litter pickers etc) and refreshments provided. |
| May 2026 | |
| ② | St Mary’s Fields Work Party | Sat 2nd May, 10am-12pm | St Mary’s carpark (OX5 2BA) – Join the team of volunteers working on some early summer tasks, encourage nature and monitor river quality. Also enjoy a well-earned slice of Julia or Rosie’s homemade cake at half time! |
| ⑤ | Kidlington Towpath Taskforce | Tues 5th 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 via the Canal & River Trust Portal. Minimum age 18. |
| ⑥ | Kidlington Gardening Society Talk | Weds 6th May, 7.30pm | Exeter Hall, small hall (OX5 1AB) – Our speaker (TBC) will be talking on the topic of ‘The development of a small Arts & Crafts house and garden’. Members are free, non-members £3. More info here! |
| ⑦ | KEG Meeting | Thurs 7th 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. |
| ⑨ | Dawn Chorus Walk | Sat 9th 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! For more info and/or sign up visit our eventbrite link here. |
| Kidlington Repair Cafe | Sat 9th May, 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. | |
| Coronation Garden Work Party | Sat 9th May, 10am-12pm | Home Close (OX5 2DN) – Come along and join other volunteers as we look after the village’s youngest garden. We’ll be planting, weeding, and beautifying this already much-cherished oasis of calm in the heart of the village. | |
| ⑩ | Kidlington Gardening Society Plant & Cake Sale (to be confirmed) | Weds 10th May, 7.30pm | Exeter Hall, small hall (OX5 1AB) – Join us for our annual plant and cake sale. More info here! |
| ⑭ | Woodland Trust Stratfield Brake Task Group | Thurs 14th 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. |
| ⑲ | Sew Workshop | Tues 19th May, 10am-12pm | WISH, 4 The Parade (OX5 1EE) – As part of ‘Mend it May’ why not come along to WISH’s sew workshop, sharpen up your skills and join others taking up the challenge to mend rather than buy new? More details here. |
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 meetings are on Thurs 7th May from 1pm @ Exeter Hall in the committee room. All welcome!
Kidlington Eco Group 
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