Noticing Nature - Aston's Eyot & the Kidneys

Noticing Nature - Aston's Eyot & the Kidneys

Take a break from your daily routine and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. Research indicates that spending time in natural surroundings can enhance both mental and physical well-being, alleviate stress, and boost your mood. You will also have the opportunity to learn about local wildlife and their habitats, deepening your connection to the environment.

This in-person event offers a chance to engage with the great outdoors and appreciate the wonders of the natural world. From birdwatching to tree identification, there will be plenty of activities to help you notice the beauty all around you.

This session is aimed at adults, but everyone is welcome to attend (under 18s must be accompanied and supervised by an adult). The event is free, but please book tickets for everyone attending as spaces are limited. If you can’t make it, please cancel your booking so someone else can take your place.

Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes - we'll have to cancel in the event the bad weather. This is an LGBTQIA+ & Neurodivergent and disability-inclusive event. If you have any specific needs or requests, please get in touch to discuss these so we can accommodate you.

These events will be led by experienced TVERC Biodiversity Officers and Friends of Aston's Eyot & the Kidneys

About the site:

Aston’s Eyot is a 13 hectare riverside nature reserve situated where the Cherwell meets the Thames in Oxford. Once a flood meadow, it became Oxford’s landfill site between 1920 and 1950. Badly capped and subject to extensive digging for old bottles and ceramics, the planned restoration to pasture failed, and the site developed into a mosaic of open areas and both natural and planted woodland. It was then abandoned for 30 years. Wildlife moved in, including large numbers of deer, badgers and foxes. In 2010 the Friends of Aston’s Eyot were formed as a local community group to manage it as a nature reserve, now with a long lease from landowner Christ Church. Since then the Friends have been restoring and creating a wide variety of habitats such as meadow areas, several types of woodland, ponds and waterside habitats.

The Kidneys is the neighbouring Thames-side reserve (8 ha), connected by a footbridge across the stream separating them. It was also used as a landfill site in the same era, but was damaged less subsequently. The two sites together form a single unit for both people and wildlife, and is managed with that in mind by the City Council and our local volunteer teams.

We look forward to seeing you there!

These events are supported by The National Lottery Community Fund's WISH Partnership.

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Host or Publisher Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre