Enstone Eco - Springing into Action!

Hello everyone,

As the days get longer and nature begins to wake up, so too has Enstone Eco! March has been full of activity, from muddy boots to clear streams and thoughtful conservation work. Here's a round-up of what we’ve been up to and what’s coming up as the days get longer and the temperature gets warmer.

🧹 Village Litter Picking

In March, Enstone Eco joined the Parish Council’s annual litter pick once again. A big thanks to all who got involved – on Saturday and Sunday teams helped clear on the Tew Roads, Church Enstone, Neat Enstone, and the end of Lidstone Road. Every bag of rubbish collected helps our local environment thrive and it was nice to be outside, tasting the start of spring.

🐟 Gagingwell Pond Cleanup

On 12 March, volunteers from Enstone Eco and Chipping Norton Green Gym rolled up their sleeves to clear out the overgrown stream alongside Gagingwell Pond. The area – once thriving with watercress – was cleared with huge success, and we’re hopeful the plant life will flourish again. Special thanks to Dawn, Kari, Ian, Parish Councillor Philip Shaw, and neighbours Nick and Kath Burgess for their support. If you’re passing by, do stop to admire the transformation (just park safely!).

🌳 Hedge Laying at Enstone Corner – Team Effort!

Enstone Eco teamed up with the Green Gym and Cotswold Wardens on 26 February, 5 and 18 March to lay hedges at the crossroads of Bicester Road and Banbury Road (Enstone Corner). This was a brilliant collaborative effort – 12 volunteers in total – and the difference made to the overgrown boundary is already visible. These hedges will now provide stronger protection and habitat for wildlife. More work is planned for winter, but we’re off to a great start!

📦 Bird Box Bonanza

We’re thrilled to share that local craftsman Dave Akers has kindly made two beautiful slate-roofed bird boxes for St Kenelm’s churchyard – one for robins and one for blue tits, with a third promised for great tits. We’ll update you once they’re installed!

🐛 Riverfly Monitoring

March saw continued riverfly monitoring at our usual location near the Harrow Inn, but also at The Planks, with Dawn and Ian spotting plenty of life in the water – including caddis fly larvae. A huge thanks to Kari for the loan of her waders! This was a trial ahead of a demonstration for schoolchildren, and we’re excited to be helping young people learn about local ecology.

We’ve also done more water quality testing near the old landfill site and found high nitrates, low phosphates, and clear water – similar to other spots across the parish. While this isn’t a full picture, it helps us keep track of the health of our waterways. This also complements the work the Parish Council are doing with Smiths, which now own the site. We'll be monitoring water quality again as part of the Waterblitz weekend at the end of April - read more here at Great UK WaterBlitz - Earthwatch Europe.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

🌼 Spotting Wildflowers with Ease – Join Our Workshop!

Don’t miss our free training event on using the iNaturalist app to identify wildflowers with confidence. It’s a great way to get outdoors and connect with nature.

📍 Saturday 26 April, 2–4pm📌 St Kenelm’s Church, Enstone👉 Register online: RSVP here

This event is in partnership with TVERC and Oxfordshire CAG.

📍 Friday 2 May, 2pm – 4pm: Practice identifying wildflowers and plants around the parish. A chance to practice using your new skills with the iNaturalist app.

🗓️ Riverfly Monitoring Sessions (email enstoneeco@gmail.com for further details):

Wed 16 April, 2pm
Wed 14 May, 2pm
Wed 18 June, 2pm

🦔 Hedgehog Talk - Hugh Warwick

📍 Monday 28 April, 7pm 📌 Litchfield Room at the Parish Hall.

Hedgehog talk by Hugh Warwick at the Garden Club in conjunction with Enstone Eco. This is a free event but donations towards refreshments are requested.

Thanks again to everyone who’s rolled up their sleeves, braved the mud, or helped behind the scenes. We couldn’t do it without you. If you’re keen to get involved or want to join our mailing list, drop us a line at enstoneeco@gmail.com or visit www.enstone-eco.co.uk.

Spring wishes,

The Enstone Eco Team 🌱