Free Help for Farmers looking to add Greater Resilience to their Farm

Happy New Year from the TOE Team!

We would like to commence the year by inviting landworkers and farmers to the launch of The Royal Countryside Fund’s ‘Farm for the Future Programme’, being delivered by Pasture for Life in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire on the 1st February 2024.

Farm for the Future is delivered through a series of free workshops and one-to-one sessions which focus on supporting farmers to navigate the changes affecting the future of farming. Some of the things you can expect to learn will include: the challenges facing farming; basics of a farming business; alternative ways of thinking about the business of farming; changing vision and mindset; understanding and making the most of environmental assets; collaborating with the farming community to build resilience and sourcing funding.

The Royal Agricultural University is hosting the launch event on 1st of February 2024 from 11am - 1pm. There will be an overview of the future of farming from the Royal Agricultural University followed by a presentation on alternative farming practices to secure farm sustainability from Nikki Yoxall and an interactive workshop about what can be gained from participating in the programme with Jonty Brunyee.

All participants will become a member of The Royal Countryside Fund’s Farm Resilience Network and gain access to a bank of resources and ongoing support, and everyone can benefit from an annual free membership to Pasture for Life which further supports farmers to build and strengthen the farming community with a wealth of practical, helpful, resources about regenerative agriculture.

See the link below for tickets.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-help-for-farmers-looking-to-add-greater-resilience-to-their-farm-tickets-789091051577?aff=oddtdtcreator

Biodiversity Net Gain 'Breakfast and Brainstorm'

TOE is hosting a ‘Breakfast and Brainstorm’ event to talk about what role Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) could play on your, or your client’s, land.

If you are interested in looking for land to deliver BNG projects on, future-proofing your economic portfolio, or understanding how to navigate the BNG process, then this is the event for you!

Meet a network of landowners and professionals to discuss the latest updates in BNG policy (including the November release of secondary legislation from Natural England), key responsibilities of stakeholders surrounding a BNG agreement, and getting land ‘BNG market ready’.

Join us on Wednesday 24th January 2024 in the Magdalen Centre at the Oxford Science Park from 08:30-11:30. Breakfast will be provided.

Link to the event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/biodiversity-net-gain-breakfast-and-brainstorm-tickets-760569623217

If you are unable to make the date, our partners the Oxfordshire Local Nature Partnership are running a BNG event for farmers and landowners on January 25th 2024 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/biodiversity-net-gain-bng-landowner-workshop-tickets-754647520047

More Local Environment Fund grants awarded

Every quarter we award grants to a wide variety of projects which create or enhance habitats for biodiversity, support citizen science, or improve people’s access to the countryside and green spaces. 

Examples of projects supported last quarter include the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens who will be installing steps to improve access to Wigwell Nature Reserve at Charlbury; the Challows & Childrey Hedgerow Group who will be planting a new hedge; and there will soon be a new wildlife pond in Island Pond Wood at Launton thanks to a grant we’ve given the Friends Group.  Grants were also awarded to Barracks Lane Community Garden, Caversham GLOBE and Cheney School.

If you are planning a similar project, apply now! https://www.trustforoxfordshire.org.uk/local-environment-fund

£50,000 available for nature recovery projects in South Oxfordshire

Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment and South Oxfordshire District Council have launched a new grant scheme which aims to increase biodiversity and encourage public access to green spaces in the district.

The money will be given as grants through TOE’s Local Environment Fund to help boost local nature recovery efforts and reduce the impacts of climate change.  Apply for a grant here.

Community groups, town and parish councils, charities and non-profit organisations are invited to apply to TOE for funds to help look after South Oxfordshire’s green spaces. Grants ranging between £1,000 and £15,000 can be used for tree and hedgerow planting or restoring community orchards, ponds, and nature-rich meadows.

Grants could also be used to improve access to nature for the public to enjoy and learn from. This could include replacing stiles with gates for better accessibility and improving pathways.

The new fund uses money from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) paid by developer contributions.

Early applications are encouraged, so any South Oxfordshire based group involved in protecting and restoring their local environment should contact TOE to find out more.

Cllr Freddie van Mierlo, South Oxfordshire District Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Nature Recovery, said: “We are looking to improve access to green spaces and create new wildlife areas in our local communities as this is proven to increase people’s wellbeing and their knowledge of the natural world.

“We want to hear from local groups and town and parish councils looking for help with projects which help promote biodiversity and reduce the impacts of climate change and improve access to nature.

“We’re partnering with TOE to administer these grants as they have specialist knowledge and experience to help develop, evaluate and monitor good quality biodiversity projects.”

Ben Heaven Taylor, chief executive of TOE, said: “We know grants from TOE make all the difference to grass-roots projects which might not otherwise happen so are pleased we can now support even more projects.  The grants we will be awarding from South Oxfordshire District Council’s CIL funds will help transform local aspirations for environmental improvements into reality.”

Detailed guidance and application forms are on www.trustforoxfordshire.org.uk/local-environment-fund The first deadline application deadline is 2 October 2023, then 8 January 2024. Submissions close at midday.

To check that your project idea meets TOE’s funding criteria, contact Rachel Sanderson, Local Environment Fund grant administrator admin@trustforoxfordshire.org,uk and 01865 407003.

Clanfield's planting a new community orchard

Over the last year an enthusiastic group of volunteers in West Oxfordshire has been planning to create a new community orchard in their village. Thanks to a grant from TOE’s Local Environment Fund, these plans will soon be a reality.

The project will transform a half-acre plot into a thriving orchard and provide a beautiful green space for everyone in Clanfield to enjoy. A Community Orchard is exactly what it sounds like – a collection of fruit trees cared for and shared by the local community. A 30-year lease has been secured on a wonderful site in the centre of the village which will soon be accessible to all via a wooden pedestrian footbridge.

The orchard will be home to a range of heritage fruit trees including apple, pear, plum, greengage, damson, medlar and quince. The selection of fruit trees has been carefully curated to include both local Oxfordshire and national heritage varieties with a focus on preserving and celebrating many old, forgotten, but tasty varieties. The first of the 40 fruit trees will be planted in autumn/winter 2023/24 and a hedge of wild harvest shrubs such as blackthorn, blackberry, elderberry, hazelnut, wild cherry and crab apple will also be planted to support wildlife as well as provide a hedge for foraging.

For more information visit the Clanfield Community Orchard website.

£1 million for nature in Oxfordshire in just one year

Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE), has now funded over £1million in nature recovery projects in the county in a little over 12 months.

Much of its work has been funded through Biodiversity Net Gain, a new UK policy through which developers can pay to offset biodiversity lost as a result of housing and commercial developments.

With Biodiversity Net Gain funds received from developers, TOE has been able to fund new nature recovery initiatives with a combined financial value of over £1million in the past year.

Our most recent recipient of funds, Sam Parsons say: TOE and BNG has given me the opportunity to fulfil one of my environmental ambitions, reverting an arable field to species rich grassland.

I feel I am being generously rewarded at the same time as creating something of beauty and value for generations to come.

I have had a painless experience of the necessary three rounds of application, through all of which I had support from TOE if any queries arose.

The agreed arrangement is less prescriptive than equivalent government-funded schemes and better funded, while overall the application process has been a pleasure. I recommend BNG, and TOE specifically, to any farmers or landowners with ambitions of field-scale environmental improvements.

I’ve greatly enjoyed meeting both TOE’s excellent advisors and their recommended botanists who share my passion for environmental enhancement. We have a plan in place for 30 years of traditional extensive agriculture that will only benefit our conventional farm.

Exciting new floodplain restoration in West Oxfordshire

Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment had the pleasure of visiting an exciting and inspiring habitat restoration project on May 22nd.  Work begun this month on an ambitious floodplain meadow restoration project, taking arable land along the River Evenlode back to historic riverside floodplain meadow.

The project is the vision of the landowner Brad Wickens who is passionate about restoring the landscape to a pre-arable state, including a full transition of natural and native habitats from the river, across the floodplain and up valley sides.   The project design works with natural processes, using existing topography and existing sources of water to develop the most sustainable and naturally functioning landscape system as possible, that can adapt and evolve with long term climatic and landscape changes.

Expansion of existing pond

Scrape created less than 24 hours before

New pond being fed by historic field drains

Opening the gate to environmental projects and funding in Oxfordshire

TOE have organised a multi- agency event for landowners and managers in south-west Oxfordshire, showcasing some of the excellent projects being undertaken in this area and highlighting what funds are available to them to support nature recovery.

Do you farm or manage land in the vicinity of south-west Oxfordshire and are interested in the local environment?

If you do, and are interested in your local environment, looking for funding for habitat creation or enhancement, wondering how you can tap into private finance to fund these projects or confused by whats on offer, then this event is for you.

Meet a network of professionals from different environmental organisations to discover the wonderful work being done in your area and what funding opportunities are available to you to carry out environmental enhancements and future proof your land.

Presenters include Catchment Sensitive Farming, Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment, Farming in Protected Landscapes and the Letcombe Brook project.

Join us on Wednesday 22nd February at the Lloyd Lindsay rooms in Ardington from 9.15-1pm including a light lunch.

Book your space on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/opening-the-gate-to-environmental-projects-and-funding-in-oxfordshire-tickets-524463904657. 

New for 2023 - TOE launches small grants for communities

The Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE) has introduced new grant schemes for 2023. Community groups, charitable and non-profit organisations seeking funding for wildlife and environmental projects in Oxfordshire can now apply for

-          a small grant of up to £1,000,  

-          a standard grant worth between £1,000 and £15,000, or

-          a transformational grant of up to £25,000

New for 2023, applications for a small grant can be submitted any time and applicants will find out if they have been successful in just a few weeks.  TOE retains a quarterly funding cycle for standard and transformational grants.

TOE is looking for projects that protect, enhance and create new natural places for wildlife and/or improve access for more people to green spaces, nature and the wider countryside.

The funding scheme is administered by TOE and supported by funds from Grundon Waste Management Ltd as part of the Landfill Communities Fund. 

Ben Heaven Taylor, chief executive of TOE says: “The Local Environment Fund is perfect for parish councils and community groups looking after local greenspaces.

“We’re keen to hear from tree-planting groups and people creating or restoring community orchards, flower-rich grassland, ponds or hedges.  These are all important for locking-up carbon and will contribute to reducing the impacts of climate change.”

Projects that involve improving access to the countryside by replacing stiles with gates, and projects involving surveying wildlife are also suitable for a Local Environment Fund grant.

Detailed information and application forms are on www.trustforoxfordshire.org.uk/local-environment-fund  To check that your project idea meets TOE’s funding criteria, contact Rachel Sanderson, Local Environment Fund grant administrator admin@trustforoxfordshire.org,uk and 01865 407003.

Tree planting grant for Peppard War Memorial Hall

A grant of £4,279 has been awarded to the Peppard War Memorial Hall to plant trees surrounding the hall.

With the Memorial Hall approaching its centenary year, the new trees are being planted to replace ash trees which had to be felled due to Ash Dieback disease.

The new trees will be Small-leaved lime, Tilia cordata. An important focal point in the village community, the new trees will help commemorate the Hall’s 100 year anniversary.

Extension of Bicester BAP habitats project

The Chiltern Rangers have been awarded a grant of £4,381 to manage scrub and rough grass at a special site outside Bicester owned by the Ministry of Defence. .

The site provides ideal breeding habitats for birds including 7 species of warbler, turtle doves and is last remaining stronghold for nightingales in the region. This is the fourth grant from TOE since 2016, with grants now totalling £23,000.

Garden Warbler

The Chiltern Rangers have been monitoring this site for over seven years on behalf of the British Trust for Ornithology through regular bird ringing. Active management to ensure a diversity in the height and age structure of scrub and grassland is required to maintain ideal breeding habitats.

The site is also important for butterfly populations with all five species of hairstreaks, purple emperor and white admiral recorded by volunteers from Butterfly Conservation’s Upper Thames Branch.

People, Plants, Pollinators - Enriching Headington Park

TOE has awarded the Friends of Headington Hill Park a grant of £6,565 for a project to permanently improve the entrances to the park.

Friends group volunteers alongside pupils from East Oxford Primary, Christ Church Cathedral School and students of Oxford Brookes University are joining to enrich biodiversity in Headington Hill Park. These volunteers will be busy: “Digging holes and planting where directed; planting in ready-made holes; carrying water in buckets; watering in; mulching; shifting debris to existing woodpile; sweeping, stacking empty pots and labels - and eating cake!”

The project aims to create lasting plant ecologies at four of the five park entrances. A range of herbaceous species will be planted which thrive in different climatic conditions thus creating flower beds which get their resilience from their diversity. The plants will create habitats for insects and other wildlife thereby further enhancing the biodiversity of the park.

Broad community engagement with this project will benefit the local community and visitors to the park as well as the students of all ages who will learn from their experience.

Queen's Oak in Woolstone

As part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, a grant of £380 has been awarded to Woolstone Parish Meeting to plant an oak tree to commemorate the life and reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The oak tree is being planted and a bench installed at a place carefully chosen for its views towards the White Horse Hill.

The grant-holder says this spot will be:

“where locals and visitors can stop, enjoy the view, and contemplate her late Majesty’s incredible service to the country.”

Woolstone Parish Meeting chose to plant an English oak as they grow slowly and will be a living memorial to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for years to come.

Devoted Volunteers of Banbury's Community Action Group❄️

Thank you to 2021 grant-holders Banbury CAG for sending us a snowy update of the work they did this weekend to install their new wildlife-friendly pond. Here’s what they said:

'Thank you so much to the 21 brave community volunteers who helped us with our wildlife-friendly pond on Sunday, despite the snow and icy conditions. 

We will invite you to add more native plants to the pond later in the spring. This was just the start! 

This project has been possible thanks to a Trust For Oxfordshire’s Environment grant with funding from Grundon Waste Management Ltd through the Landfill Communities Fund. 

Thank you also to Wild Banbury for their advice and practical support. “

It is great to see the devotion of local people to Oxfordshire’s environment come snow or shine! We love hearing from our grant-holders, please share your stories with us.

Hendred Estate Biodiversity Net Gain progress

Hendred Estate is receiving Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) funding from local development at Harwell Campus, facilitated by TOE.

Sapling at Hendred Estate

This BNG project is underway and tree planting has begun.

1.2ha of woodland will be created along with 4 ha of species rich chalk grassland and enhancement of 1 ha neutral grassland.

In addition to providing the biodiversity enhancement, the estate will be getting a decent financial return on an area of land that currently provides little or no income. Having a biodiversity hotspot on this location will also provide habitat for many beneficial invertebrates that will help manage pest species. The woodland will provide a wind break and will improve the soil, providing structure to retain the water on this free draining site.

Defra’s ELMS Test and Trial Conference

CEO Ben Taylor and Landowner Engagement Officer Karen Lindley left Oxfordshire last week, heading to London to present at Defra’s ELMS Test and Trial Team Stakeholder Conference. 

TOE have recently completed a Test and Trial (T&T) on behalf of Defra, testing an innovative mechanism to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) extracting key learning which may be replicated for Defra’s future schemes and advise policy. Biodiversity Net Gain is still a relatively new concept, and it is important that it is delivered effectively so that it results in actual biodiversity gain on the ground. Findings showed there is interest in using private finance to support habitat creation projects, but uncertainties such as taxation, market demand and pricing are hampering uptake.  

TOE’s full findings will be published shortly, but do contact TOE to learn more about how we are linking private financing from biodiversity  net gain to the achievement of the emerging Local Nature Recovery Strategy whilst securing income for landowners.

Wildflower Project grant for Nettlebed

Nettlebed Parish Council has been awarded a grant of £620 for their Wildflower Project. 

This project aims to enhance the floral diversity of the road verge in the heart of the village.  During 2022 the verge was left uncut so the volunteers involved could see what already grows there and they were pleasantly surprised to find some wildflowers already including Cow Parsley, Red Clover, Oxeye Daisy and Plantain.

Following advice from a local expert, this grant will fund additional wildflower plugs which will be planted in the spring.  With a bit of care, these should be enough to create a sustainable wildflower verge that will be a home to bees and butterflies (amongst other insects of course).  

As well as benefiting wildlife the project has already benefited volunteers one of whom has been so impressed he has created a herb garden out the front of the parish hall for everyone to help themselves so this project is already inspiring others. 

New Stretch of Boardwalk in Hinksey Heights

New Boardwalk under construction

Located in the Hinksey Heights nature reserve on the west side of Oxford, a new 30m boardwalk has been put in place to make the popular Hinksey Trail more accessible.

Just in time for the muddy winter conditions, we’re delighted that a grant from our Local Environment Fund has funded a new 30m stretch of boardwalk by the Lower Lake.  The original wooden boardwalk had weathered and started to sink over time which created accessibility and safety issues for its users. Now, thanks to the hard work of 12 volunteers, the new boardwalk has been constructed, made from recycled plastic so it can be safely enjoyed for many years. In total, this project cost £11,600 and the TOE grant of £8,800 was matched by a grant of £2,800 from Vale of White Horse District Council.

For more info about the trail or if you are keen to join this proactive team of volunteers check out their website.

Local Stream Brought Back to Life

We have received some exciting news from the Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Environment Group.

In 2020, TOE awarded a grant to Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Environment Group which enabled the volunteers to de-culvert a spring-fed brook to improve the ecological and recreational value of a public green space in the heart of the village.  A year after completing the project, they have reported seeing rare insects at the stream.

Macrosteles sardus

Dicyphus tamaninii

Keen insect recorder John Bloomfield from Brightwell-cum-Sotwell said “we officially have only the third ever record of Macrosteles sardus leafhopper for the UK!”.  He also believes that in the stream is a type of Mirid Bug Dicyphus tamaninii which, if confirmed, will be the fourth recorded in the UK.  

We are so pleased to hear about the positive impact this project has had on local biodiversity.

Volunteers at work in March 2021

Thame Showground Hedge

Showground missing hedge

21st Century Thame have been awarded a grant of £1,525 for their hedge-planting project at Thame Showground.

The project will plant up two gaps in the hedge around Thame Showground to provide protection for the migration of small mammals across Thame’s countryside. This project will benefit biodiversity as hedgerows provide vital resources for mammals, birds, and insects. As well as being an important habitat in their own right, hedges act as wildlife corridors allowing dispersal between isolated habitats.