Outdoor meetings are usually short walks of two to three miles and typically last a couple of hours. Visitors are welcome for the nominal sum of £3 paid to the walk leader.
Booking for field meetings is not usually necessary although it is helpful for the leaders to know how many people will be coming. However, for some meetings booking is essential.
For more information, to book or to indicate that you will be coming, please email walks@thefieldclub.org.uk or use the form on the Contact Us page.
| Sunday 2 May 2021 4:00 am |
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| Dawn Chorus Walk A slow walk of two to three miles to hear the birds wake up and start singing. We hope to hear or see 40 to 50 species. |
| Leader: Adrian State |
| Meet at car park at top of lane leading to Minster Lovell ruins; wrap up well – it can be very cold early in the morning! |
| Map reference: SP322113 |
| Limited to six participants Booking essential |
| Saturday 5 June 2021 10:30 am |
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| Deer Park Wood, Witney This is an 11 acre site managed by Witney Woodland Volunteers (WWV) to improve the land for the benefit of wildlife and the local community. The site has a central grassed area surrounded by mounds planted with mixed woodland species. It is a very impressive example of nature conservation in an urban area. WWV have a great website (click on this link) which gives a lot of information about the site including records of all the flowers, birds, mammals and butterflies etc seen on the site. The walk will also include a visit to land on the other side of Range Road which WWV wish to manage in the future. The walk should take about 1 and a half hours. |
| Leaders: Roger and Esther Hepworth. |
| Meet at the outdoor classroom shown on the plan of the wood on their website. The wood doesn’t have its own parking place so the best place to park is to drive along Deer Park Road then turn into Range Road and then take the first right into De Haviland Way. Drive to the far end of this cul-de-sac and park on the roadside. You will see on the right hand-side of the road by the last industrial unit a long tarmacked footpath which goes into the wood. Once in the wood go up some steps and where the footpaths cross go straight on into the grassed area and then turn right and the outdoor classroom is about 50 yards further along. Parts of the site can get very wet so please wear suitable footwear. |
| Map reference SP337102 |
| Thursday 17 June 2021 11:00 am |
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| Greystones Farm near Bourton-on-the-Water. This is a Gloucestershire wildlife trust reserve. |
| Leader: Maggie Collins |
| Park in the Station Road public car park (small charge) in Bourton. The reserve is a five minute walk from there. |
| Map reference SP173209 |
| Tuesday 29 June 2021 6:00 pm |
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| Wildflower walk in the Chipping Norton area Circular walk starting at Chipping Norton Leisure Centre and then through Glyme Farm, New Chalford Farm and Over Norton Park Farm returning to the car park. This an area of significant biodiversity and includes wildflower-rich limestone grassland, unimproved farmland with wild flower margins, a newly created farm wildflower meadow, and farm land that has been in Stewardship Schemes for many years. The walk is 4-5 miles and will take about 2 and a half hours with the option of leaving early. |
| Leader: Craig Blackwell (former County Ecologist) |
| Meet in the Chipping Norton leisure centre car park just off Burford Road in Chipping Norton. |
| Map reference SP316226 |
| Wednesday 7July 2021 1:30 pm |
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| Hackpen Hill and Crowhole bottom near Childrey and Wantage The fairly remote valley on the south side is frequented by red kite, kestrel and buzzard. The plants and insects are those typical of this type of terrain. In July, expect Common Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Marbled White, Brown Argus and Small Heath. Chalk Carpet and Wood Tiger moths are possible and also Saddleback Harvesters (arachnid). Plants include Squinancywort, Rockrose, Pyramidal Orchid and many others. |
| Leader: John Cobb |
| Meet at the small parking area at Sparsholt Firs. Detailed driving directions from Witney will be emailed to people attending. |
| Map reference SU344851 |
| Steep slopes. Boots are essential and there is no cover, so please bring waterproofs if the forecast includes rain, and water and a hat if the weather is sunny. |
| Wednesday 14 July 2021 8:30 pm |
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| Crepuscular walk in the Stonesfield area A walk of two to three miles to look for glowworms and see or hear bats and grasshoppers. Some of this walk will be in the dark over rough ground so please wear suitable footwear and bring a torch. |
| Leaders: Sue Morton and John Cobb |
| Meet at the small parking space on the east side of minor road between Ashford Mill and Stonesfield at the far western end of Stonesfield Common. Parking space is limited so car sharing is advised. |
| Map reference: SP388163. |
| Saturday 24 July 2021 9:00 am |
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| Moth morning at Shilton See the moths from 4 overnight traps at a private garden and wooded area in Shilton Refresments will be served. |
| Leader: Mary Elford |
| Numbers limited to twelve and priority will be given to members who have not been to a moth morning before. |
| Map reference – details will be emailed to people attending |
| Booking essential |
| Wednesday 11 August 2021 11:30 am |
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| Visit to Minster Lovell Hedgehog Rescue |
| Leader: tbc |
| Numbers limited to ten people.If there is enough interest a second visit can be arranged. |
| Map reference: tbc |
| Booking essential |
| Sunday 22 August 2021 11:30 am – 5:00 pm |
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| Wychwood Forest Fair Foxburrow Wood, Hailey, nr Witney |
| The Club will have a stall at the fair – Come and visit us! |
| For detail see the Wychwood Project Website |
| Wednesday 25 August 2021 10:30 am |
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| Visit to FarmEd Shipton-under-Wychwood This is a not-for-profit organization on a 107 acre mixed farm with 3 eco-buildings for conferences and education. They have been on BBC’s Countryfile. Their mission is to build sustainable farming and food systems. See their website https://www.farm-ed.co.uk/ |
| Leader: tbc |
| An optional picnic lunch using locally sourced, regenerative and seasonal ingredients (£12 per head) will be available. Please let Jonathan Noel know if you would like lunch. More details to follow |
| Map reference: SP288195 |
| Booking essential |
| Sunday 19 September 2021 10:30 am |
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| Pond dipping at Pinkill, near Farmoor (Adults only) |
| Leader: Dr Jeremy Biggs, director of the Freshwater Trust |
| The ponds at Pinkhill meadow are a mosaic of over 40 ponds and pools and they provide a habitat for breeding waders and wildfowl. The ponds were created about 30 years ago and are now the best monitored pond complex in the UK. The area is exceptionally rich in wetland plants and about 100 species of aquatic invertebrates have been recorded. |
| Numbers limited For more information, or to book, please email walks@thefieldclub.org.uk or use the form on the Contact Us page. |
| Map reference: SP451062 |
WEST OXFORDSHIRE FIELD CLUB 