top of page

Wychwood_Logo_(No_Strap_Green).jpg

ABOUT
THE WYCHWOOD
- History of the Wychwood
- Explore the Wychwood
WHAT'S ON
- Upcoming Events
RESERVES
SUPPORT US
NEWS
- Latest News
- WFT Magazine
More

Use tab to navigate through the menu items.

Site Map

Home

About us

Staff

To donate £5 to the Wychwood Forest Trust

text FOREST to 70580

We had a good gathering at Foxburrow this morning with volunteers, old and new, despite the cold.

The first hurdle was lighting the fire - thank you for all the assistance (one paperbag and one tissue) everyone!

Thank you to Roger, Stuart, Simon and Peter who spoke about the different volunteer groups they lead - walling, hedgelaying, work parties and Wigwell Friends. We all agreed that good cake is a necessary part of the volunteer experience!

Neil explained a bit about our vision for the future of Foxburrow and some of the other reserves, the things we can do to encourage biodiversity, and how the volunteers are an integral and much-valued part of our approach.

Thank you all for coming, and for helping to make the tea with the temperamental Kelly kettle.

We will be in touch with all our volunteers very soon with next steps. Hopefully, next time we meet, the sun will be shining and the day will definitely be warmer!

If you are interested in joining us as a volunteer to work on our nature reserves, or with one of our specialist groups learning rural skills, head over to our website for more information and to register: https://www.wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk/get-involved

We had a good gathering at Foxburrow this morning with volunteers, old and new, despite the cold.

The first hurdle was lighting the fire - thank you for all the assistance (one paperbag and one tissue) everyone!

Thank you to Roger, Stuart, Simon and Peter who spoke about the different volunteer groups they lead - walling, hedgelaying, work parties and Wigwell Friends. We all agreed that good cake is a necessary part of the volunteer experience!

Neil explained a bit about our vision for the future of Foxburrow and some of the other reserves, the things we can do to encourage biodiversity, and how the volunteers are an integral and much-valued part of our approach.

Thank you all for coming, and for helping to make the tea with the temperamental Kelly kettle.

We will be in touch with all our volunteers very soon with next steps. Hopefully, next time we meet, the sun will be shining and the day will definitely be warmer!

If you are interested in joining us as a volunteer to work on our nature reserves, or with one of our specialist groups learning rural skills, head over to our website for more information and to register: https://www.wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk/get-involved

Here's the dream team, Neil, Roger, Simon and Stuart. What these guys don't know about habitat restoration, countryside management and rural skills is not worth knowing.

We were at Foxburrow this morning, doing a recce before we decide on the tasks for the next few work parties when they start up again in a few weeks.

We are looking forward to Thursday when we will meet with volunteers at the outdoor education area at Foxburrow at 11.30am. Everyone and anyone interested in volunteering is welcome - we'll get the field kettle on the campfire for a brew up, and there will be biscuits.

It will be a chance to hear this team of experts talk about what needs to be done on the reserves in our regular work parties, and about joining the walling group or the hedgelaying group - as well as many other volunteering opportunities we've got coming up.

Drop us email if you are coming on Thursday, so we know how many chocolate hobnobs to bring.

See you then!

volunteers@wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk

Here's the dream team, Neil, Roger, Simon and Stuart. What these guys don't know about habitat restoration, countryside management and rural skills is not worth knowing.

We were at Foxburrow this morning, doing a recce before we decide on the tasks for the next few work parties when they start up again in a few weeks.

We are looking forward to Thursday when we will meet with volunteers at the outdoor education area at Foxburrow at 11.30am. Everyone and anyone interested in volunteering is welcome - we'll get the field kettle on the campfire for a brew up, and there will be biscuits.

It will be a chance to hear this team of experts talk about what needs to be done on the reserves in our regular work parties, and about joining the walling group or the hedgelaying group - as well as many other volunteering opportunities we've got coming up.

Drop us email if you are coming on Thursday, so we know how many chocolate hobnobs to bring.

See you then!

volunteers@wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk

Great photo of frog spawn at Singe Wood, sent in by Flora Gregory.

In a couple of weeks the tadpoles will emerge, and then slowly metamorphose into frogs over the following three months or so.

Spring is just around the corner!

Great photo of frog spawn at Singe Wood, sent in by Flora Gregory.

In a couple of weeks the tadpoles will emerge, and then slowly metamorphose into frogs over the following three months or so.

Spring is just around the corner!

We were delighted to welcome members of Witney U3A nature group to Gibbets Close Hill last week for a guided walk.

The sun was shining, and we saw a hare, a fox, kites and buzzards, and a couple of field mice, all taking advantage of the good weather!

Neil explained the important work we are doing at Gibbets, including the very successful wetland creation project with @freshwaterhabitatstrust and the introduction of carrion to the site.

Our guided walks at Gibbets will start again in earnest in the spring, so if you haven't yet visited this special place, do keep an eye on the website or sign up for our newsletter. Details of the walks will appear there soon.

We were delighted to welcome members of Witney U3A nature group to Gibbets Close Hill last week for a guided walk.

The sun was shining, and we saw a hare, a fox, kites and buzzards, and a couple of field mice, all taking advantage of the good weather!

Neil explained the important work we are doing at Gibbets, including the very successful wetland creation project with @freshwaterhabitatstrust and the introduction of carrion to the site.

Our guided walks at Gibbets will start again in earnest in the spring, so if you haven't yet visited this special place, do keep an eye on the website or sign up for our newsletter. Details of the walks will appear there soon.

Thanks to the Wigwell Friends for organising this event on Tuesday March 4th at 7.30pm at the Friends Meeting House in Charlbury.

Come along and listen to talks about Wigwell nature reserve, and learn about plans for the future of this green space.

Refreshments provided. We hope to see you there.

Thanks to the Wigwell Friends for organising this event on Tuesday March 4th at 7.30pm at the Friends Meeting House in Charlbury.

Come along and listen to talks about Wigwell nature reserve, and learn about plans for the future of this green space.

Refreshments provided. We hope to see you there.

Plenty of raptors in evidence at Gibbets yesterday, lazily circling overhead, and a roe deer who stopped and looked at us for a long time, before taking off across the fields. The ponds looked good and full, and it won't be long before they'll be busy with spring life.

It is always a joy to be on this reserve whatever the weather, watching it change through the seasons as it continues its long slow return to forest over time by natural succession. If you haven’t seen it before, or even if you have, join us to see the changing landscape when we start taking walks around again in spring.

Details will be posted on the website soon.

Plenty of raptors in evidence at Gibbets yesterday, lazily circling overhead, and a roe deer who stopped and looked at us for a long time, before taking off across the fields. The ponds looked good and full, and it won't be long before they'll be busy with spring life.

It is always a joy to be on this reserve whatever the weather, watching it change through the seasons as it continues its long slow return to forest over time by natural succession. If you haven’t seen it before, or even if you have, join us to see the changing landscape when we start taking walks around again in spring.

Details will be posted on the website soon.

The WFT Hedgelaying group had a good day at Standlake Church yesterday. The sun was shining and they made a great start on the hedge, about 20m in total.

It will be finished in a couple of weeks. The group did a longer section at the same location last year, so it is a site they know well.

Thanks to Stuart, Simon, Clare and Martin. Great job!

The WFT Hedgelaying group had a good day at Standlake Church yesterday. The sun was shining and they made a great start on the hedge, about 20m in total.

It will be finished in a couple of weeks. The group did a longer section at the same location last year, so it is a site they know well.

Thanks to Stuart, Simon, Clare and Martin. Great job!

Meadow crane's-bill is a cheery sight in summer, its pretty violet flowers grace the Cotswolds' hay meadows, verges and grasslands.

Not that it is summer yet, but thanks to Rob Stepney for sending this picture in and cheering us all up on this cold February day!

The Wychwood Flora Group have just published their calendar of surveys for 2025. You can check it out at https://www.wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk/about-us.

Meadow crane's-bill is a cheery sight in summer, its pretty violet flowers grace the Cotswolds' hay meadows, verges and grasslands.

Not that it is summer yet, but thanks to Rob Stepney for sending this picture in and cheering us all up on this cold February day!

The Wychwood Flora Group have just published their calendar of surveys for 2025. You can check it out at https://www.wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk/about-us.

This lovely pic of a pyramidal orchid was taken by Rob Stepney. It also features in our January newsletter to illustrate the latest update from our Flora Group.

If you haven't signed up for the monthly WFT newsletter and want to keep up with everything that's going on in the Wychwood, head over to our website to subscribe.

wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk

This lovely pic of a pyramidal orchid was taken by Rob Stepney. It also features in our January newsletter to illustrate the latest update from our Flora Group.

If you haven't signed up for the monthly WFT newsletter and want to keep up with everything that's going on in the Wychwood, head over to our website to subscribe.

wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk

This lovely photo of a barn owl was sent in by Julian Burch.

It was the first barn owl to fledge from Julian's nesting box. A great collaboration with the neighbouring farmer and the SSE contractor who left the pole up!

Wonderful to see - thanks Julian!

Have a good weekend folks.

This lovely photo of a barn owl was sent in by Julian Burch.

It was the first barn owl to fledge from Julian's nesting box. A great collaboration with the neighbouring farmer and the SSE contractor who left the pole up!

Wonderful to see - thanks Julian!

Have a good weekend folks.

Blowy, a bit cold, and very squelchy underfoot but Foxburrow looked lovely in the sunshine this morning. It was tempting to sit around the campfire and brew up a cuppa, but there wasn't enough time.

Anyone else been out and about on a Monday morning walk to blow the cobwebs away?!

Blowy, a bit cold, and very squelchy underfoot but Foxburrow looked lovely in the sunshine this morning. It was tempting to sit around the campfire and brew up a cuppa, but there wasn't enough time.

Anyone else been out and about on a Monday morning walk to blow the cobwebs away?!

A big thank you to Charlbury Town Council and @charlburywildlife for inviting us to the launch party of the Year of Nature Recovery.

It was a really positive event with a great talk by Catriona Bass on the very successful nature recovery network in Eynsham and their effective ‘bottom-up’ approach. So much to get excited about!

Wychwood Forest Trust are pleased to be supporting Charlbury's 2025 Year of Nature Recovery.

A big thank you to Charlbury Town Council and @charlburywildlife for inviting us to the launch party of the Year of Nature Recovery.

It was a really positive event with a great talk by Catriona Bass on the very successful nature recovery network in Eynsham and their effective ‘bottom-up’ approach. So much to get excited about!

Wychwood Forest Trust are pleased to be supporting Charlbury's 2025 Year of Nature Recovery.

It was great to meet up with our partners at @freshwaterhabitatstrust and @newt_partnership this morning.

It was bitterly cold and there was still snow on the ground in places at Gibbets. The ponds were thickly iced over - but it was fantastic for the team to see how things are developing so quickly with this project.

Hopefully next time they visit, it might be a bit warmer and the damselflies and dragonflies will be back! We are looking forward to monitoring the ponds over the coming year and seeing the difference they will make to biodiversity at Gibbets and the surrounding landscape.

It was great to meet up with our partners at @freshwaterhabitatstrust and @newt_partnership this morning.

It was bitterly cold and there was still snow on the ground in places at Gibbets. The ponds were thickly iced over - but it was fantastic for the team to see how things are developing so quickly with this project.

Hopefully next time they visit, it might be a bit warmer and the damselflies and dragonflies will be back! We are looking forward to monitoring the ponds over the coming year and seeing the difference they will make to biodiversity at Gibbets and the surrounding landscape.

Have you made a new year's resolution for 2025? Ours is to spend more time outdoors and less time in the office ...

If you'd like to make a difference to the wildlife and countryside in our beautiful Wychwood region, why not join our volunteer army? You'll get to spend more time in the great outdoors (which we all know is good for mental health and physical fitness), AND help out on projects to increase biodiversity and combat environmental issues.

Ping us an email info@wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk for more information.

Happy New Year everyone!!

Have you made a new year's resolution for 2025? Ours is to spend more time outdoors and less time in the office ...

If you'd like to make a difference to the wildlife and countryside in our beautiful Wychwood region, why not join our volunteer army? You'll get to spend more time in the great outdoors (which we all know is good for mental health and physical fitness), AND help out on projects to increase biodiversity and combat environmental issues.

Ping us an email info@wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk for more information.

Happy New Year everyone!!

Our Wychwood Christmas Tree!!

The recent storms have ruffled our local woodlands a little, and one of our old ash trees on the exposed hilltop at Gibbets Close took a particular pounding. This fine old tree has already sustained old lightning damage, hollowed out much of its heartwood, and is of course infected with the ubiquitous ash dieback fungus. So it was getting rickety, and the latest storm just happened to be the one that finally broke it in half.

This is the point when many land managers would be removing the tree, regardless of whether it is a obstacle or not, ‘making safe’, and generally tidying up. Which would be a terrible shame as this tree is not dead, just injured by natural processes, and could potentially be only half way through its lifespan. Much of the tree will probably burst into life again in the spring, and the parts that don’t will begin providing new deadwood habitats that will in time enrich the biodiversity of the land further.

This is the essential second stage of any tree in nature, but it is so rarely allowed to happen in our modern landscapes, even on many nature reserves. Obviously it is not practical to leave every fallen old tree where it lands, but we seem to now live in a world where it almost never happens.

So we hope you like our Christmas tree! This one won’t be chipped after Christmas, and will be waiting where it fell to greet you if you come for a tour around Gibbets next year.

A very happy Christmas and peaceful New Year from all of us at WFT.

Our Wychwood Christmas Tree!!

The recent storms have ruffled our local woodlands a little, and one of our old ash trees on the exposed hilltop at Gibbets Close took a particular pounding. This fine old tree has already sustained old lightning damage, hollowed out much of its heartwood, and is of course infected with the ubiquitous ash dieback fungus. So it was getting rickety, and the latest storm just happened to be the one that finally broke it in half.

This is the point when many land managers would be removing the tree, regardless of whether it is a obstacle or not, ‘making safe’, and generally tidying up. Which would be a terrible shame as this tree is not dead, just injured by natural processes, and could potentially be only half way through its lifespan. Much of the tree will probably burst into life again in the spring, and the parts that don’t will begin providing new deadwood habitats that will in time enrich the biodiversity of the land further.

This is the essential second stage of any tree in nature, but it is so rarely allowed to happen in our modern landscapes, even on many nature reserves. Obviously it is not practical to leave every fallen old tree where it lands, but we seem to now live in a world where it almost never happens.

So we hope you like our Christmas tree! This one won’t be chipped after Christmas, and will be waiting where it fell to greet you if you come for a tour around Gibbets next year.

A very happy Christmas and peaceful New Year from all of us at WFT.

This photo of a beautiful hawk-moth is by Guy Ker, one of the winners of our 2024 photo competition.

It illustrates the month of July in our 2025 photo calendar, just one of the 12 fantastic photos taken by local photographers in the Wychwood area.

To get your hands on a copy of the calendar, please go to https://www.wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk/shop.

The calendar costs £10 and all the proceeds go to our projects looking after nature in the historic Wychwood Forest area. Would make a great Christmas pressie for nature lovers everywhere!

This photo of a beautiful hawk-moth is by Guy Ker, one of the winners of our 2024 photo competition.

It illustrates the month of July in our 2025 photo calendar, just one of the 12 fantastic photos taken by local photographers in the Wychwood area.

To get your hands on a copy of the calendar, please go to https://www.wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk/shop.

The calendar costs £10 and all the proceeds go to our projects looking after nature in the historic Wychwood Forest area. Would make a great Christmas pressie for nature lovers everywhere!

This amazing photo of a female black-tailed skipper is by Denis Kennedy, one of our favourite local photographers.

Denis's beautiful work is also featured in our 2025 photo calendar and this image illustrates the month of May.

To get your hands on a copy, please go to https://www.wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk/shop.

The calendar costs £10 and all the proceeds go to our projects looking after nature in the historic Wychwood Forest area.

Thank you Denis for your wonderful contributions.

This amazing photo of a female black-tailed skipper is by Denis Kennedy, one of our favourite local photographers.

Denis's beautiful work is also featured in our 2025 photo calendar and this image illustrates the month of May.

To get your hands on a copy, please go to https://www.wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk/shop.

The calendar costs £10 and all the proceeds go to our projects looking after nature in the historic Wychwood Forest area.

Thank you Denis for your wonderful contributions.

A big thank you to @witneytc for inviting us to have a display in their Community Window during November.

It's a great way to share a little of who we are and what we do with residents and visitors to the town. We've had some fab feedback.

We are really grateful for WTC's ongoing support. The window display has become a lovely event in our annual calendar. Thank you @witneytc !

A big thank you to @witneytc for inviting us to have a display in their Community Window during November.

It's a great way to share a little of who we are and what we do with residents and visitors to the town. We've had some fab feedback.

We are really grateful for WTC's ongoing support. The window display has become a lovely event in our annual calendar. Thank you @witneytc !

Although it was chilly, the sun came out at Foxburrow today. Some of our regular volunteers and friends gathered to say goodbye to Toby. We had tea and cake and toasted Toby’s seven years with the Wychwood Forest Trust. Thank you for all your hard work from all of us and we wish you all the very best for the future! We will miss you Toby!

Although it was chilly, the sun came out at Foxburrow today. Some of our regular volunteers and friends gathered to say goodbye to Toby. We had tea and cake and toasted Toby’s seven years with the Wychwood Forest Trust. Thank you for all your hard work from all of us and we wish you all the very best for the future! We will miss you Toby!

We say goodbye to Toby this week who is going on to pastures new after 7 years at WFT.

There will be a little gathering at Foxburrow on Thursday with tea and cake round the campfire.

If you'd like to join us to wish him farewell, please email maeve@wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk for details.

We say goodbye to Toby this week who is going on to pastures new after 7 years at WFT.

There will be a little gathering at Foxburrow on Thursday with tea and cake round the campfire.

If you'd like to join us to wish him farewell, please email maeve@wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk for details.

This amazing photo of marbled white butterflies was taken by @alex_willetts_ and illustrates the month of June in our WFT 2025 calendar.

The calendar is now on sale through our online shop at https://www.wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk/shop

As usual, the calendar features 12 exceptional photographs of the wildlife and landscapes of the Wychwood Forest area.

It costs £10 and all proceeds go to WFT projects across our different nature reserves. Please consider buying calendars for friends and family for Christmas - it would make a lovely pressie!

This amazing photo of marbled white butterflies was taken by @alex_willetts_ and illustrates the month of June in our WFT 2025 calendar.

The calendar is now on sale through our online shop at https://www.wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk/shop

As usual, the calendar features 12 exceptional photographs of the wildlife and landscapes of the Wychwood Forest area.

It costs £10 and all proceeds go to WFT projects across our different nature reserves. Please consider buying calendars for friends and family for Christmas - it would make a lovely pressie!

The carrion table at Gibbets Close Hill is taking shape thank to our dedicated volunteers who are willing to get stuck in even on a snowy day!

Thanks so much to everyone for your help with this project. And thanks to Denis for taking photos!

The carrion table at Gibbets Close Hill is taking shape thank to our dedicated volunteers who are willing to get stuck in even on a snowy day!

Thanks so much to everyone for your help with this project. And thanks to Denis for taking photos!

This lovely little fella was snapped by Shaun Hancox on our Gibbets Close Hill reserve. Shaun won first prize in our annual photo competition, and 'Young Robin' is the cover star of our 2025 calendar.

The calendar boasts 12 beautiful photos of wildlife taken in the Wychwood Forest area, by talented friends and supporters of WFT. We've only got a limited number, so if you'd like to grab a copy, go to https://www.wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk/shop. Would make a fab Christmas pressie!

This lovely little fella was snapped by Shaun Hancox on our Gibbets Close Hill reserve. Shaun won first prize in our annual photo competition, and 'Young Robin' is the cover star of our 2025 calendar.

The calendar boasts 12 beautiful photos of wildlife taken in the Wychwood Forest area, by talented friends and supporters of WFT. We've only got a limited number, so if you'd like to grab a copy, go to https://www.wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk/shop. Would make a fab Christmas pressie!

Our AGM on Saturday was a great success. Neil spoke about our achievements this year and handed out the prizes for the photo competition - well done to Shaun and Denis!

We were delighted to have the naturalist and best-selling author Stephen Moss as our guest speaker and he gave a really engaging talk about the loss of biodiversity and in particular how bird species have been affected. It prompted a lively discussion afterwards.

We had a delicious lunch laid on by the wonderful team @realfarmed. It is always such a pleasure to be hosted at their beautiful venue - thank you so much for taking such good care of all our guests.

And a huge thank you to Stephen as well, who took us on a brisk bird walk in the afternoon - a lovely end to the day.

Thank you to all our friends and members for continuing to support the work that we do - we couldn't do it without you!

If you weren't able to attend, but would like a free copy of our beautiful new Annual Review, produced by the team at Writerly & Wild, do contact maeve@wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk.

Our AGM on Saturday was a great success. Neil spoke about our achievements this year and handed out the prizes for the photo competition - well done to Shaun and Denis!

We were delighted to have the naturalist and best-selling author Stephen Moss as our guest speaker and he gave a really engaging talk about the loss of biodiversity and in particular how bird species have been affected. It prompted a lively discussion afterwards.

We had a delicious lunch laid on by the wonderful team @realfarmed. It is always such a pleasure to be hosted at their beautiful venue - thank you so much for taking such good care of all our guests.

And a huge thank you to Stephen as well, who took us on a brisk bird walk in the afternoon - a lovely end to the day.

Thank you to all our friends and members for continuing to support the work that we do - we couldn't do it without you!

If you weren't able to attend, but would like a free copy of our beautiful new Annual Review, produced by the team at Writerly & Wild, do contact maeve@wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk.

We had a lovely gathering today at Wigwell in Charlbury. It was Toby's last working party with the volunteers and we had a little send off with mulled wine and biscuits.

We know how grateful the Friends of Wigwell are to have had Toby's guiding hand steering the management of this beautiful nature reserve over the years.

Most recently, the group have built an impressive set of steps and a handrail on the steep side of the valley, meaning people can continue to enjoy the site safely, despite all the mud!

Thank you Toby - and thank you too to our wonderful volunteers - for all your hard work.

We had a lovely gathering today at Wigwell in Charlbury. It was Toby's last working party with the volunteers and we had a little send off with mulled wine and biscuits.

We know how grateful the Friends of Wigwell are to have had Toby's guiding hand steering the management of this beautiful nature reserve over the years.

Most recently, the group have built an impressive set of steps and a handrail on the steep side of the valley, meaning people can continue to enjoy the site safely, despite all the mud!

Thank you Toby - and thank you too to our wonderful volunteers - for all your hard work.

We had a lovely morning with our friends at @bridewellgardens today, chatting over tea and cake about the ways we can work together in the future.

Neil explained what we do, our approach to nature conservation and habitat restoration, and a little about our exciting rewilding and research projects at Gibbets Close Hill. We are looking forward to welcoming @bridewellgardens for a guided walk to the site soon.

We took along five baby Aesculapian snakes (that Neil has bred), for people to handle. They always prompt an interesting discussion about invasive species and what that really means.

Thank you @bridewellgardens for a lovely morning - we really enjoyed our visit, and we look forward to you coming to see us soon!

We had a lovely morning with our friends at @bridewellgardens today, chatting over tea and cake about the ways we can work together in the future.

Neil explained what we do, our approach to nature conservation and habitat restoration, and a little about our exciting rewilding and research projects at Gibbets Close Hill. We are looking forward to welcoming @bridewellgardens for a guided walk to the site soon.

We took along five baby Aesculapian snakes (that Neil has bred), for people to handle. They always prompt an interesting discussion about invasive species and what that really means.

Thank you @bridewellgardens for a lovely morning - we really enjoyed our visit, and we look forward to you coming to see us soon!

Happy Halloween to everyone from the Wychwood Forest Trust team!

Happy Halloween to everyone from the Wychwood Forest Trust team!

Great to see the carrion table at Gibbets slowly taking shape, thanks to Toby and the volunteers. All 4 legs have been dug in and appropriately adorned! Next it is on to the platform which will form the table top.

There are several biological factors that probably limit the rate at which landscapes can begin to repair themselves by natural ecological processes. One of these is the comparative lack of ‘dead things’ in modified countryside compared to more pristine environments.

There are a myriad of creatures that specialise in clearing up death and decay, from the microscopic to the vultures, and keeping them busy and well-fed is actually the cornerstone of healthy food webs and ecosystems.

Leaving roadkill on the carrion table will be the nearest we can manage to simulating an important biological process that can't re-establish itself by natural means at any significant scale in the wider landscape any time in the near future.

This is part of a project to investigate the effects of sporadic, glut-and-famine carrion availability on the recovery of the wider species assemblage over time, not just on the obvious scavengers. Over the coming years we will monitor population changes of certain indicator species that should benefit indirectly from the increased biomass of detritivores.

Thank you to all the volunteers for all their hard work!

Great to see the carrion table at Gibbets slowly taking shape, thanks to Toby and the volunteers. All 4 legs have been dug in and appropriately adorned! Next it is on to the platform which will form the table top.

There are several biological factors that probably limit the rate at which landscapes can begin to repair themselves by natural ecological processes. One of these is the comparative lack of ‘dead things’ in modified countryside compared to more pristine environments.

There are a myriad of creatures that specialise in clearing up death and decay, from the microscopic to the vultures, and keeping them busy and well-fed is actually the cornerstone of healthy food webs and ecosystems.

Leaving roadkill on the carrion table will be the nearest we can manage to simulating an important biological process that can't re-establish itself by natural means at any significant scale in the wider landscape any time in the near future.

This is part of a project to investigate the effects of sporadic, glut-and-famine carrion availability on the recovery of the wider species assemblage over time, not just on the obvious scavengers. Over the coming years we will monitor population changes of certain indicator species that should benefit indirectly from the increased biomass of detritivores.

Thank you to all the volunteers for all their hard work!

Toby was out on Saturday training volunteer hedgelayers again, this time as part of @wild_oxfordshire's Hedgerow Heroes campaign, which we are pleased to support.

The group laid 10m of hedge along Jubilee Way in Witney. Well done everyone!

Toby was out on Saturday training volunteer hedgelayers again, this time as part of @wild_oxfordshire's Hedgerow Heroes campaign, which we are pleased to support.

The group laid 10m of hedge along Jubilee Way in Witney. Well done everyone!

We hope you will support the March for Clean Water if you can.

It is widely known that not a single river in England is in good overall health - how can we possibly hope to restore nature and increase biodiversity with polluted waters?

We can't, but we can speak up and press for change. We should take heart in knowing that it only takes 3.5% of the population to shift the political agenda, and in knowing peaceful protest is more likely to succeed, take opportunity to have the issue heard by the new government.

ALL of the top environment and nature charities/groups are supporting this walk and their combined message is clear; by flooding the streets the new government will see that clean rivers and drinking water must be a top priority for them.

Rest assured, this will be a family friendly event, a great way to network with your wider river community and citizen scientists, and in general a really uplifting day. There will also be some great guest speakers at the event - more on their website.

We hope you will support the March for Clean Water if you can.

It is widely known that not a single river in England is in good overall health - how can we possibly hope to restore nature and increase biodiversity with polluted waters?

We can't, but we can speak up and press for change. We should take heart in knowing that it only takes 3.5% of the population to shift the political agenda, and in knowing peaceful protest is more likely to succeed, take opportunity to have the issue heard by the new government.

ALL of the top environment and nature charities/groups are supporting this walk and their combined message is clear; by flooding the streets the new government will see that clean rivers and drinking water must be a top priority for them.

Rest assured, this will be a family friendly event, a great way to network with your wider river community and citizen scientists, and in general a really uplifting day. There will also be some great guest speakers at the event - more on their website.

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

© Wychwood Forest Trust / info@wychwoodforesttrust.co.uk / 07561 639094

Wychwood Forest Trust, Woodgreen, New Yatt Road, Witney, OX28 1NB / Registered charity no. 1084259

bottom of page