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. Please note that there are occasional ‘pop-up’ walks which are not in the printed programme. Details will be emailed to members and added to this page.
Talks and outdoor meetings are free to members and £3 for visitors. Please note that 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 2nd May 7:15 for 7:30pm |
| Jessica Bouwer on ‘Hedgerows’ and ANNUAL PLANT SALE for Club funds. |
| Sunday 4th May 5am |
| DAWN CHORUS AT RUSHY COMMON Meet in Rushy Common car park off the Cogges to Stanton Harcourt road before 5am. Some keen members may prefer to arrive at 4am and hear the first sounds of the birds. NB It can be very cold so wrap up well, bring a torch and wellies. Map Ref: SP381073 OX29 5AN Leader: Adrian State |
| Saturday 17th May 2pm |
| SOUTHHILL SOLAR FARM A guided 2 hour walk to learn about this community-owned project and to enjoy the abundance of wild flowers, bees and butterflies. Meet in the lay-by on the left side of the B4022 Witney to Charlbury road, shortly after Fawler Mill House on the left. Suitable footwear and possibly a walking pole is advised. Map Ref: SP363181 OX7 3AE Leader: Dr Anne Miller |
| Sunday 1st to Wednesday 4th June |
| TRIP TO GOWER PENINSULA Please book with Julia Read. Leader: Peter Creed |
| Sunday 8th June 10am |
| HACKPEN HILL AND CROWHOLE BOTTOM Here’s a chance to see Early Gentians for which the site is SAC. Rich chalk grassland flora, including common and fragrant orchids. Very good for invertebrates including butterflies. 500m level walk to site which has uneven ground, so wear appropriate footwear and be aware that there is no shade. Meet at small car park at Sparholt Firs where the Ridgeway crosses B4001 Wantage – Lambourn road at top of Sincombe Hill. Map Ref: SU34388508 What3Words:frizz.dish.kidne Leader: Kathy Warden |
| Monday 16th June 9.45am |
| VISIT TO CHARLBURY QUARRY A rare chance to see this privately owned quarry and enjoy unusual flora such as green-winged orchids in this protected area. The quarry offers great geological interest. Meet in the Spendlove car park in Charlbury at 09.45.Steep terrain, so suitable footwear and a stick are advised. Map Ref: SP357751 9614 OX7 3PQ Leader: Nick Johnson. Numbers limited to 10, so please book with Julia Reid |
| Sunday 22nd June 10.30am |
| VISIT TO HITCH COPSE A visit to BBOWT Parsonage Moor to look for mining bees and predatory wasps with entomology expert Peter Creed. Meet at Dry Sandford Pit Reserve car park. Further parking is available in the village near the pub. Please car share if possible. NB We will need dry weather for mining bees, so this visit may be postponed until Sunday 29th if there is rain. Map Ref: SU461997 OX13 6JW Leader: Peter Creed |
| Sunday 6th July 9.30am |
| PAVEMENT PLANTS – CANCELLED Following an interesting article in ‘British Wildlife’ magazine, in which researchers found a large variety of both indigenous and non-native plants in Shoreditch, London, we shall also take an urban route, but in Witney to see what we can find. The walk will be about 2.5 hours. Meet outside Waitrose in Witney at 09.30. OX28 6AR Leader: Brenda Betteridge |
| Thursday 10th July 11am |
| DANEWAY BANKS – CANCELLED The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Reserve is a prime example of limestone grassland with a rich flora and is home to many species of butterflies including Large Blue. There will be an option to visit Siccaridge Wood Reserve after lunch. Park at Daneway Inn (car sharing advised), about half a mile west of Sapperton. Way-marked paths through reserve; steep slopes. Map Ref: SO936034 GL7 6LN Leader: Roger Newman |
| Sunday 13th July |
| MOTH MORNING Held in a private garden in Shilton. See the moths collected in three overnight traps, including spectacular hawk moths. Details on application. Refreshments available afterwards. May be rescheduled if the weather is poor. Leader: Julian Howe. Numbers limited to 15 |
| Sunday 3rd August 10am |
| GRASSES OF GLYME VALLEY The walk will take about two hours of relatively easy walking, depending on the weather. Meet in the Leisure Centre car park in Chipping Norton, Burford Rd. Map Ref: SP314266 OX7 5DY Leader: Craig Blackwell |
| Saturday 9th August 12.30 for 1pm |
| SUMMER LUNCH at Shilton Village Hall £16 per person. Please book with Maggie Collins before July 20th. Numbers limited to 40. |
| Thursday 28th August 2pm |
| GIBBETS CLOSE FARM Gibbets Close Farm was acquired by the Wychwood Forest Trust five years ago and has been allowed to return to nature. Scrapes were created in 2024 so we hope to see a variety of dragonflies. Suitable footwear and a walking pole are advised. Head north out of Witney, up Oxford Hill. After the traffic lights there is a turning second on the left, through a five bar gate, into a yard. Gate open after 1.45pm. Parking is very limited, so please car share if possible. Map Ref: SP368098 OX29 6UT Leader: Neil Clennell |
| Wednesday 17th September 7:15pm |
| BAT WALK – NOTE NEW DATE AND VENUE Come and learn how to detect different bat species. We hope to be able to lend some bat detectors if you don’t already have one. Bring a torch. Meet near the canal by Holy Cross Church, Shipton on Cherwell, Kidlington OX5 1JH Leader: Alison Riggs |
| Saturday 13th September |
| TRACKS AND SIGNS Time and venue to be confirmed. Leader: Bob Cowley |
| Wednesday 1st October 9:30am |
| VISIT TO OTMOOR An opportunity to look for waders and other birds with an experienced leader. A 2.5 hour walk which could be very muddy so suitable footwear advised. Map Ref: SP570126 OX3 9TD What3Words:dividers.sage.bibs Leader: David Rolfe |
| Friday 3rd October 7:15 for 7:30pm |
| FIRST INDOOR MEETING Hugh Warwick: ‘Cull of the Wild’ |
| Sunday 19th October 10am |
| FUNGUS FORAY at Foxholes Meet at the lay-by on the road outside the BBOWT reserve near Bruern. There is a short walk to the reserve which can get very wet, so bring suitable footwear etc. Bring a hand lens if you have one. Map Ref: SP259208 OX7 6RW Leader: Peter Creed |
WEST OXFORDSHIRE FIELD CLUB 