Flora & Fauna
Join me in a deeper dive to better understand the plants and animals that we encounter here in Oxfordshire.
June 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Bird
Jay
The shy woodland bird with brilliant blue feathers and a voice that sounds like a rusty gate. Follow the call and you might just spot one.
June 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Bird
Heron
The giant of our rivers and ponds. Standing perfectly still one moment, then unfolding enormous wings and gliding away the next.
June 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Bird
Red Kite
The soaring scavenger that's become part of everyday life in Oxfordshire, thanks to one of Britain's greatest wildlife comebacks.
June 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Bird
Starling
The glossy bird that's easily overlooked. Watch them hunt for worms, copy sounds and dance across the sky in breathtaking murmurations.
June 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Mammals
Muntjac Deer
The tiny deer that's often spotted by its footprints before the animal itself. Keep your eyes peeled for these woodland acrobats darting through the undergrowth.
June 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Mammals
Otter
The freshwater predator is one of Britain's most charismatic mammals. Follow the bubbles and you might just spot an otter slipping through the water.
May 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Mammals
Pipistrelle Bat
The small insectivore that can fit inside a matchbox, and gobble down 3,000 insects a night.
We had a lovely evening at SCEEC spotting and hearing them with the help of a bat detector.
May 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Mammals
Water Voles
Britain's fastest-declining mammal and one of our most elusive. Look for nibbled stems, burrows and a tell-tale plop as they dive into the water.
July 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Amphibians & Reptiles
Grass Snake
Britain's largest native snake is completely harmless. Learn why these graceful swimmers deserve admiration, not fear.
July 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Amphibians & Reptiles
Slow Worm
It looks like a snake, but it's actually a legless lizard! Discover one of Britain's most misunderstood reptiles.
Wildflowers
July 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Wildflowers
Cuckoo Flower
The delicate pink wildflower that tells you spring has arrived. Look closely and you might also find one of Britain's most beautiful butterflies nearby.
May 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Wildflowers
Cuckoo-pint
The plant that inspired many different names, (including bloody man's finger) we keep seeing it this spring.
Poisonous if eaten, it's starchy tuber was used to make ruffs in days of yore. It attracts flies by giving off a rotten-meat smell.
July 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Wildflowers
Pyramidal Orchid
The bright pink orchid that rises above summer grasslands in neat, pointed spikes. Look closely and each flower is far more intricate than it first appears.
July 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Wildflowers
Snake's-head Fritillary
The extraordinary chequered wildflower that turns Oxfordshire's ancient meadows into a stunning spring spectacle.
Invertebrates
July 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Insect
Ermine Moths
Halloween in the middle of summer! Discover the caterpillars that wrap entire trees in shimmering silk before transforming into delicate white moths.
June 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Insect
Froghopper
The most amazing bug, that you've walked past a hundred times without realising. It makes its own bubble wrap and can jump madly high.
July 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Insect
Orange-Tip Butterflies
One of spring's most beautiful butterflies. Find a cuckooflower, and you might just find an orange-tip dancing nearby.
July 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Insect
Solitary Bees
Not all bees live in hives. Meet the gentle, hardworking bees that raise their families alone in tiny tunnels beneath our feet.
July 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Trees
Beech Tree
Smooth grey trunks, leafy green cathedrals and golden autumn leaves. Beech trees are some of Britain's most beautiful giants.
July 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Trees
Oak Tree
Britain's most iconic tree. The mighty oak can live for centuries, supporting more wildlife than any other native tree.
July 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Trees
Willow Tree
Graceful branches, twisting bark and riverside reflections. Willow trees are full of character, whatever the season.
May 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Trees
Yew Tree
The ancient tree that's amazing for climbing, but also incredibly toxic. A harbinger of doom but also a symbol of immortality.
We visited the yew in All Saints' churchyard in Didcot that's thought to be between 1,000 - 1,600 years old.
Amphibians
July 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Amphibians & Reptiles
Frog
From tiny jelly-like eggs to hopping froglets, frogs have one of nature's most incredible life cycles. Follow their journey through spring and summer.
July 2026 · Flora & Fauna · Amphibians & Reptiles
Smooth Newt
Tiny pond-dwelling amphibians with a magical life cycle. Look closely and you might spot their larvae or beautifully folded eggs hidden amongst the pond plants
Go on an Oxfordshire Nature Adventure
Nature reserves, gardens, zoos, epic walks and quiet strolls, here's a taste of our recent family nature expeditions across Oxfordshire.
Click here to see all of the adventures so far
Nature Adventures · Nature Reserves
Earth Trust
An epic adventure spotting newts, buzzards, kingfishers, caterpillars and so much more.
Nature Adventures · Parks and Gardens
Stonor Park
A fun-filled day spent exploring the adventure playground, spotting deer, getting up close with birds of prey and strolling round the gardens and arboretum.
Nature Adventures · Nature Reserves
Cothill Fen
A distinctly Jurassic stroll through the most diverse area in Oxfordshire, taking in FIVE nature reserves. We saw solitary bees, fossils, woodpeckers and some impressive geology.
Nature Adventures · Nature Reserves
Thrupp Lake
A gorgeous walk from Radley Station to Abingdon under the sounding bridge, around the lake and through Barton Fields, hearing an astonishing number of birds.
Find your nearest Adventure
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