Indoor meetings are held on the first Friday of each month from October to May in the Methodist Church, Witney. Please use the rear entrance from Woolgate (Waitrose) car park in Witan Way.
A printable version of the programme can be downloaded here.
There may also be occasional ‘pop-up’ walks which will be notified to members by email.
Talks and outdoor meetings are free to members and £3 for visitors. Booking is required for some events where numbers are limited.
For more information on outdoor meetings, to indicate that you will be coming, or to book if required, please email julia_d_reid@yahoo.com or use the form on the Contact Us page.
| Friday 5 May 7:15 for 7:30 pm |
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| INDOOR MEETING |
| Helen Mugridge ARPS Much-travelled wildlife photographer from the Forest of Dean |
| ‘Ecuador – The Andes to the Amazon’ |
| and ANNUAL PLANT SALE in aid of Club funds |
| Sunday 7 May 4am |
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| DAWN CHORUS |
| Leader: Adrian State |
| Worth the early start to hear the birds wake up! Expect to hear/see 40 to 50 species. |
| Meet at car park at top of lane leading to Minster Lovell ruins. |
| It can be very cold as we won’t be moving fast – wrap up very warm! Terrain can be wet and rough; one steep ascent. Bring a torch. If you let Julia Reid know if you’d like to come and we can look out for you. |
| Map reference: SP322113 OX29 0RR |
| Monday 15 May 10am |
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| Chimney Meadows NNR |
| Walk of 2 -3 hours to learn about the recently restored wetlands at Chimney. |
| Leader: Lisa Lane (BBOWT) |
| Park at Chimney Meadows office car park which is about half a mile from the public car park. |
| Map Ref: SP354013 OX18 2EH |
| Numbers limited to 15 and booking essential. |
| Please book with Julia Reid |
| Sunday 28th May 1.30pm |
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| ASTON UPTHORPE DOWNS |
| Two hour walk on chalk downland. Spring flowers, butterflies and day-flying moths. |
| Leader Malcolm Brownsword |
| Leave A34 southbound at Chilton/Harwell campus, about 2 miles after the Milton (Didcot) interchange. Take first exit from roundabout and follow signs for E and W Hagbourne. Drive over Hagbourne Hill to a roundabout on the A417. Take the RH exit eastwards towards Upton and Blewbury. Continue 2 miles to large road sign on the left-hand verge. Turn RIGHT – signposted ‘to the downs.’ onto a steep narrow unclassified road. After about 1.5 miles you will see a large grain dryer. Park alongside at 90 degrees to maximize parking space. Short steep stretch; no cover. Pub at Upton on the A417 doing excellent food on the way. Map Ref: SU550844 |
| Map Ref: SU550844 |
| Afterwards members are invited to Malcolm’s and Valerie’s wildlife garden in nearby West Hagbourne for tea and cakes. OX11 0NQ. |
| Tuesday 6th June 6pm |
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| PLANT IDENTIFICATION at STONESFIELD |
| Two hour walk looking for unusual plants and flowers such as Meadow Clary on Stonesfield Common SSSI. |
| From B4022 follow road through Finstock towards Wilcote; turn left at the crossroads. Turn left again at Ashford Mill then bear right over the railway bridge. The lay-by is about half a mile further on the right. Limited parking so please car share. |
| Leaders Genny Early and Brenda Betteridge |
| Map Ref: SP388163 |
| Sunday 25th June 10:30am |
| VISIT TO PAULINE FLICK RESERVE |
| Leader Jan Guilbride |
| A walk to look at flora and birds on a half-mile stretch of disused railway line through limestone farmland near Great Rollright. Level grass path from car park area which is off the road; gentle slope from the entrance, then level; some roots and stones. |
| Map Ref: SP323302 OX7 5RE |
| Saturday 1st July 9am—12 noon |
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| MOTH MORNING |
| Meet the moths from 3 traps set up in a private garden in Shilton. The event will be rescheduled if the overnight weather forecast is poor. |
| Numbers limited to 15; please book with Julia Reid. Directions will be emailed to people coming. |
| Sunday 9th July 11am – 4pm |
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| WYCHWOOD FOREST FAIR A good day out! – see here. |
| Volunteers needed to help on the Club’s stand; please contact Sue Morton if you can help. |
| Foxburrow Community Wood, Foxburrow Lane, Witney. Parking will be signposted off Hailey Road.OX29 9UN |
| Map Ref: SP353117 OX29 9UN |
| Wednesday 12th July 7:30pm |
| GLOWWORMS |
| Leader Sue Morton |
| Walk of 2 – 3 miles around Swinbrook near Burford followed by a hunt for glowworms. Possibility of bats. For those not wishing to do the walk meet at 10:30pm in Swinbrook churchyard. |
| Park near phone box or grass area behind church. Map ref: SP280121 OX18 4DY |
| Map Ref: SP280121 OX18 4DY |
| Thursday 20th July 10.45am |
| BUTTERFLY WALK |
| Leader Roger Newman |
| Walk of about two hours around a new butterfly transect in Charlbury, taking in a playing field, cemetery, grassland, hedgerows and allotments; opportunity to see many of the 20 or more summer butterflies. |
| Meet at Charlbury Community Centre. |
| Map Ref: SP357197 OX7 3PQ |
| Numbers limited to 15; please book with Julia Reid |
| Thursday 3rd August 12.30 for 1pm |
| 60th ANNIVERSARY LUNCH at FarmEd, Shipton-under-Wychwood. |
| Please bring photos of past WOFC events, the older the better! |
| Members £15, Guests £20. Optional farm walk at 11am £10.00 per person extra |
| Please book with Maggie Collins by 19 July |
| Map Ref: SP286193 OX29 9UN |
| Thursday 24th August 10.30am |
| SYDLINGS COPSE BBOWT RESERVE 3.5 miles north of Oxford |
| Leader Elaine Steane. |
| The circular walk of 0.75 miles includes woodland, heathland and a boggy area. Some steep areas including 47 rough steps which can be slippery. Information about the reserve on the BBOWT website. |
| Park in Taggs Gate in Barton, turn left onto a footpath and walk 1.5 miles uphill to Sydlings Copse. Map ref: SP555079 |
| Map Ref: SP555079 OX3 9NW |
| Also limited parking on B4027. From Headington roundabout take Bayswater Rd north through Barton: turn left onto the B4027, after 500m park opposite Royal Oak Farm. Take bridleway for 600m past two small woods. The reserve is on right. Map ref: SP559096 OX3 9TY |
| Sunday 10th September 2.30pm |
| SPIDERS AND INSECTS North Leigh Common |
| Leader Lawrence Bee |
| Find out how to find them. Leave your phobias at home – bring a hand lens and transparent plastic box. |
| Map Ref: SP399136 OX29 6PU |
| Numbers limited 15; please book with Julia Reid |
| Sunday 17th September 11am |
| IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF DINOSAURS |
| Leader John Baker |
| A two-mile walk exploring the world-renowned geology and geomorphology of Stonesfield area. Meet at St James Church carpark. |
| Map Ref: SP394171 OX29 8PP |
| Friday 22nd September 7:15pm |
| BAT WALK |
| Leader Gavin Hageman |
| Come and learn how to use a bat detector and hear bats in the middle of Witney. |
| Meet by the yellow entrance barrier of the Woodford Way carpark. Some bat detectors may be available for loan but please bring one if you have one. |
| Take the A4095 Mill Street / Burford Road from the junction (roundabout) with High Street and Bridge Street in Witney and turn left at the first set of traffic lights. The carpark is shortly on the right. |
| Map ref SP353101 OX28 6GN |
| Friday 6th October 7:00 for 7:30pm |
| FIRST WINTER INDOOR MEETING |
| Lower Hall, Methodist Church, High Street, Witney |
| Sunday 29th – Monday 30th October |
| FUNGUS FORAY in the Malvern Hills |
| Leader Peter Creed |
| Two-day / one night Also possibility of joining for one day only |
| Details to follow |
We hope that the Winter 2023 – 24 programme will be available by the first indoor meeting in October.
WEST OXFORDSHIRE FIELD CLUB 