Friends of Meadow Lane Nature Park

Friends of Meadow Lane Nature Park Nature Reserve in Donnington, Oxford, England.

Local gardener Mark (Insta: gardening_willbrad) gave us a hand this morning clearing overgrown nettles and brambles from...
22/08/2025

Local gardener Mark (Insta: gardening_willbrad) gave us a hand this morning clearing overgrown nettles and brambles from the orchard, which hasn’t had any maintenance for several years. Out of twelve fruit trees we planted maybe seven years ago - eight apples, three plums and one damson - ten survived the neglect, which isn’t bad at all specially after this hot dry summer.

Anyone got a fruit tree to spare? We have two empty spots, and could clear some new ones.

Blackberry season! And all that hot weather and the recent rain has produced a bumper crop. Pick now while stocks last !...
05/08/2025

Blackberry season! And all that hot weather and the recent rain has produced a bumper crop. Pick now while stocks last !!

Last year there were just a few Chicory plants - that’s the beauties with the bright blue flowers. But they really have ...
11/07/2025

Last year there were just a few Chicory plants - that’s the beauties with the bright blue flowers. But they really have proliferated now, bringing welcome colour to the sun-bleached grassland.

Growing alongside with abundant small yellow flowers is Lady’s bedstraw (https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/ladys-bedstraw), and this is the first time I’ve seen it growing in the NP in such abundance!

As for the Chicory, it’s a native species across the UK though many plants growing in the wild may be descended from cultivars bred for their large, brilliant blooms (https://www.naturespot.org/species/chicory).

The white (and some pink) flowers in the third photo are Yarrow (https://www.naturespot.org/species/yarrow ), which was previously widespread in this area but got pushed into the background by vigorous grasses. But with the regular autumn cut (with removal of cuttings) carried out by Oxford Council it’s making a comeback.

Growing amongst the Yarrow with its pink and white striped flowers is Field bindweed (https://www.naturespot.org/species/field-bindweed), definitely the prettiest and least bothersome of the native bindweeds.

All these wild flowers are here thanks to the regular cutting regime now in place and we’re looking forward to more exciting arrivals !!

An unusual find in MLNP back in early spring: a tiny Scarlet elfcap mushroom (Sarcoscypha coccinea). Apparently it’s wid...
01/05/2025

An unusual find in MLNP back in early spring: a tiny Scarlet elfcap mushroom (Sarcoscypha coccinea). Apparently it’s widespread but not common, and grows on woody debris in damp, mossy places. So not super-rare but still a rather special little fungus to have recorded in the nature park.

The best account I found of the species is by the Woodland Trust: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/fungi-and-lichens/scarlet-elf-cup/

My first dandelion of spring !! Spotted in Meadow Lane Nature Park.
25/03/2025

My first dandelion of spring !! Spotted in Meadow Lane Nature Park.

Sunset over the Thames / Isis this evening at Meadow Lane Nature Park
24/03/2025

Sunset over the Thames / Isis this evening at Meadow Lane Nature Park

Bloomin’ blackthorn !!
14/03/2025

Bloomin’ blackthorn !!

Litter picking season is well under way now in Meadow Lane Nature Park with all the usual vegetation died back to its se...
12/03/2025

Litter picking season is well under way now in Meadow Lane Nature Park with all the usual vegetation died back to its seasonal minimum.

The top photo the result of an hour or so’s picking. The two below show a few places we’ve not got to yet. So if the mood takes you there’s still work to be done !!

Quite a lot of this is historic rubbish, including some bits from the landfill that underlies the NP that somehow rise up to the surface. Every year, it gets a bit better 😊

Everything’s happening at the Nature Park today! ODS down in force keeping the tracks clear and encroaching vegetation t...
24/09/2024

Everything’s happening at the Nature Park today! ODS down in force keeping the tracks clear and encroaching vegetation trimmed back. Fortunately yesterday’s record breaking rain has all soaked into the dry subsoil, but there’s still quite a flow coming down Boundary Brook.

Works are also under way around the ‘Tardis’ (ventilator for major underground sewer) as Thames Water embarks on clearing out fatbergs and other delights to increase the sewer’s capacity.

We’re lucky to have an Oxford Council that both has the resources to put into maintaining its nature parks and other wildlife sites, and recognises the value of so doing to local communities!

A remarkable burst of thistle down in the NP (from Spear thistle as seen in second photo). Feeling sure people of old mu...
13/08/2024

A remarkable burst of thistle down in the NP (from Spear thistle as seen in second photo). Feeling sure people of old must have made good use of it I did a quick search and came up with:
- tinder for lighting fires from iron/flint sparks
- stuffing luxury pillows
- curdling milk for cheese making.
Any other folk wisdom out there ?

Wild flowers on the river bank at the Meadow Lane NP this evening. Great willow herb, Hogweed, Creeping thistle, Bramble...
06/08/2024

Wild flowers on the river bank at the Meadow Lane NP this evening. Great willow herb, Hogweed, Creeping thistle, Bramble, Nettle … and Himalayan balsam providing a lot of the colour. And in this instance being a good citizen, holding its own among other vigorous plants without taking over.

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Meadow Lane
Oxford
OX44BL

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+441865252240

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