St Mary's Fields Kidlington

14/06/2026

Exciting event at SMF organised by CPRE Oxfordshire. To celebrate their centenary the Love Your Countryside campaign is launching on 22 June with a workshop in the refectory of St. Mary's church followed by a guided walk. Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/51073760103

24/05/2026

The shady paths in St Mary's Fields are perfect for a walk in this hot weather. And the whole area is buzzing with iridescent damsel flies right now.

15/05/2026

In response to the recent Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust - BBOWT report on Glow-in-the-dark Caterpillars -late last night several intrepid hunters went in search of the Hairstreak Butterfly larvae . After a slow start (a few cutworm caterpillars, some cuckoo spit, webs and eggs), the second stand of Blackthorn revealed what we had come looking for. Where we had found 6 eggs in January, within just an hour, 16 Hairstreak caterpillars fluoresced in the UV torch light!
Why not have a go yourself.
See our interpretation board for the life cycle of the Brown Hairstreak butterfly.

13/05/2026

09/05/2026

A beautiful sunrise during the dawn chorus walk this morning. They say, "be up with the lark" and the skylarks were certainly up today, already singing at 4:05 am. Twenty seven species of bird were seen or heard during the walk around the nature reserve and down to the river.

08/05/2026

We've added more tickets for tomorrow's free dawn chorus walk!
Go to Eventbrite to register https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dawn-chorus-walk-tickets-1985106816927?aff=oddtdtcreator&_gl=1*m4xgpi*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTM5OTY0MjE1My4xNzc4MjI3MTI4*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3NzgyMjcxMjckbzEkZzEkdDE3NzgyMjcyMTkkajYwJGwwJGgw

02/05/2026

A glorious May morning, and good turn-out for the monthly volunteer session. Among tasks tackled: checking the reptile refugia, wildflower planting, pond life surveying, litter picking, path clearing. Plus chatting over coffee, tea and cake during the break.

30/04/2026

Nice to see some bike racks and a picnic table have been installed just outside the reserve next to the newly resurfaced cycle path.
(Please note, there is a litter bin about 20m from this spot, by the car park entrance.)

27/04/2026

Proof that summer is here!
The first swift has arrived back in School Road. It returned to a swift box on Wednesday 22nd April, at 7pm. 4 days earlier than last year!
The second came the following day.
And today we have seen 6 in the sky.
So looking forward to spectacular aerobatic displays and screaming parties over the next 3 months.
We'll be organising evening Swift Walks around Kidlington in July. Look out for details here and on the Kidlington Eco Group Eventbrite page.