News
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Discovering Places: Saturday 28th - Monday 30th May 2011
Oxford Preservation Trust have organised a weekend of walks and ‘wild’ family events to encourage local people to get out and discover Oxford’s green spaces in the city’s loveliest season.
See below for details of free walks and events over the bank holiday weekend. Please book online or telephone 01865 242918.
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From Park to Pub
Saturday 28th May, 10.30am
A guided walk from the University Parks in the city centre through idyllic lanes to OPT's charming riverside pub, The Victoria Arms at Marston, with local environmentalist Dr Tim King.
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Victoria Arms to Marston Hamm
Saturday 28th May, 2.00pm
A guided walk from OPT's picturesque riverside pub The Victoria Arms to see the new Thames-side flood meadows at Marston Hamm with local environmentalist Dr Alison McDonald. A charming after-lunch stroll.
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Go Batty! Family fun at Hinksey Meadows
Saturday 28th May, 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Come and learn about bats and how they use these beautiful meadows, within walking distance of the city centre. Make a bat mask and go on an insect hunt looking for batty food. You can also make your own bat box to take home! All welcome but children must be accompanied by an adult. Dogs need to be kept on a short lead.
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Evening Bat Walk at Hinksey Meadows
Saturday 28th May, 8.30pm - 10.30pm
Join a local bat expert with a bat detector to watch and hear bat flying over the wet features of the meadows. All welcome but children must be accompanied by an adult and should be aged 6 or over. Please bring a torch and wrap up warm!
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Oxford Green Spaces Day & Circular Walk
Sunday 29th May, 10.00am - 4.00pm
Come and discover parts of Oxford you never knew existed! Stalls and other activities will be at Oxford’s three Town Greens – Warneford Meadow, (Hill Top Road, behind Southfield Golf Course); The Trap Grounds, (just off Frenchay Road, by the canal) and Oxpens Meadow, (Oxpens Rd near Ice rink). Do the Town Greens Trail, which links these open green spaces in the city.
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Oxford Green Belt Way, Abingdon to Radley, via Radley Lakes
Sunday 29th May, 10.00am
A 7-mile circular walk from Abingdon to Radley, via Radley Lakes led by David Godfrey, Rights of Walk Consultant to the Oxfordshire Branch of the CPRE (Campaign to Protect the Rural Environment) .
Please meet at 10.00am at Abbey Close (alias Abbey Meadows) car park in Abingdon and bring a picnic to have at Radley Lakes.
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Family Discovery afternoon at Heyford Meadow Nature Park
Sunday 29th May, 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Come and explore our delightful riverside meadow and be a tree detective, write some haiku poetry and go on a singing bird trail. All welcome but children must be accompanied by an adult. Dogs need to be kept on a short lead.
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Oxford Riverside Walk
Sunday 29th May, 2.00pm (1hr, 1hr30, 2hr or 3hr walk – you decide!)
A fascinating fact-filled guided walk through and near Oxford Preservation Trust land along the river. Follow the Thames Path from Oxford to Kennington via Iffley and Sandford with Oxford local historian, guide, and writer Mark Davies. You can finish at Iffley (approx. one hour), Sandford (approx. 90 mins), Kennington (approx. 2 hours; public transport available back to Oxford), or return to Iffley (approx. 3 hours).
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A Walk in Wolvercote
Sunday 29th May, 2.00pm
Wolvercote is fortunate to be surrounded by an ancient landscape. This afternoon wander will begin next to Port Meadow, a 5,000 year old pasture, and continue to OPT’s heritage orchard. From there you will cross Iron Age enclosures, looking at the plant communities and discovering which may have been managed continuously since Domesday. The walk, led by local environmentalist Dr Alison McDonald, will finish at a 19th century railway ‘borrow pit' on land that used to be part of the common land, Goose Green.
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Oxford Riverside Walk
Monday 30th May, 10.00am (1hr, 1hr30, 2hr or 3hr walk – you decide!)
A fascinating fact-filled guided walk through or near Oxford Preservation Trust land. Follow the Thames Path from Oxford to Kennington via Iffley and Sandford with Oxford local historian, guide, and writer Mark Davies. You can finish at Iffley (approx. one hour), Sandford (approx. 90 mins), Kennington (approx. 2 hours; public transport available back to Oxford), or return to Iffley (approx. 3 hours).
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Ascott Park, Stadhampton
Monday 30th May, 11.00am
A walk of about 2 miles around the site of Ascott Park, which was the once the home of the Dormer family, with Neil Monaghan and John Sykes. The original manor house vanished long ago and a second house was burnt down just as it was completed in 1662. However a fine dovecot, garden pavilion, gate piers, lime tree avenue, and ornamental garden ponds can still be seen.
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Discovering Places has been organised by Oxford Preservation Trust in support of Countryside2011. Countryside2011 is a two-week showcase of rural activities, events and attractions that will give people a new view of the countryside and how to enjoy it. For events happening elsewhere see http://www.countryside2011.org.uk.
