Community-led meadow creation in W Oxon

The environment

The 7000 plants that we grew include species that are among the rarest plants in Britain. Combined with our hedge-planting and the wetland and river close by, we are creating that all-important mosaic of habitats.

The local economy

The greenhouse purchase as contributed to the economy and its erection has used three local contractors and locally sourced materials. The tractor equipment has engaged a local company who will continue to service it. Our activities are providing skills and training to young people and therefore potential future employment. We provide jobs for 2 part time staff (not funded by this grant)

Volunteering, jobs & education

Normally, we get around 70 people out to plant hedges in the meadows that we are restoring and we typically plant around 500m in a day. This year, over 100 people turned out on the 12th January and planted 1km of hedge, which was a new record for us. We now have over 700 people on our mailing list. One new masters student from Oxford Brookes University has chosen to work with our bee specialist to do a study on bees. Another Oxford Brookes University masters student has chosen to do a thesis on moths. The Beaver Scouts are planning to do an invertebrate study in the Neyotts Meadow.

Arts, culture & heritage

The project has inspired a new art-science programme that we are running from April to December, including 1. Botanical Drawing with Julia Loken, 2. Community sorting of invertebrates found by our entomologists as part of our invertebrate study, followed by invertebrate drawing with Alice Walker; 3. The Art and Science mosses with Sue Rubinstein and 4. A Community Photographic Competition - Celebrating Nature

Activity, health and leisure

The social and well-being benefit of our activities in nature is evidence by the consistent attendance of our volunteers and the growth of our group.