We want to know what species are present in our parish and where they are. To find out, we will be doing some organised surveys, but also we want to encourage everyone to record what they see.
We have chosen 20 species that we are especially interested in knowing more about and we are making the reporting of these as easy as possible.
We are offering two methods for reporting sightings. The easiest, which can be used for our ’20 Selected Species’ is via our website form below
The other method is via iRecord which requires more detail but goes directly to a national biological recording system that we can retrieve data from - but you’ll need to add our activity code when you fill in the form.
events & surveys
Murmurs of murmurations
The starlings are beginning to do their thing as they gather for a dance as more and more reach us from the continent for winter. A starling murmuration is a thing to behold; a large group of starlings that fly together in a synchronized, ever-changing pattern. The word "murmuration" comes from the noise the birds' wings make.
Starling murmurations typically occur in the early evening, just before the birds roost for the night. The best time to see them is in the autumn and winter, usually from October to March. The peak in numbers is usually December to January.
Would you like to join us for a trip to Otmoor to hopefully see a murmuration? Please email us and we'll be in contact.
Past events:
November 2024 - Pub Quiz and Chill evening
August 2024 - White Hill quarry glass clearance and hedge maintenance
August 2024 - Pond dipping, South Stoke
July 2024 - Glow Worm survey
July 2024 - Wildflower and insect walk, Swan's Way
July 2024 - Day trip to Knepp re-wilding project
Jun 2024 - Wildflower & insect walk, White Hill Quarry, Thursday 27th June
Jun 2024 - Wildflower & insect walk, The Street/Herons. Thursday 13th June
May 2024 - South Stoke May Fayre stall, Monday 6th May, noon
May 2024 - SSWCG Annual General Meeting, SS Village Hall, Tuesday 7th May
May 2024 - Wildflower & insect walk, Ferry Lane, Thursday 9th May
May 2024 - Guided tour of Ewelme watercress beds Tuesday 14th May
May 2024 - Tour of Lardon Chase 26th May 2024
May 2024 - Wildflower & insect walk, Lower Meadow, Thursday 30th May
April 2024 - Wildflower & insect walk, White Hill Quarry, Thursday 11th
April -2024 Light maintenance of White Hill Quarry, Friday 12th
April 2024 - Tour of Withymead nature reserve, Sunday 21st April
April 2024 - Wildflower & insect walk, Swan's Way, Wednesday 24th April
April 2024 - Pub Quiz at Perch & Pike, Thursday 25th April
March 2024 - Maintenance at White Hill Quarry, Sunday 24th March
February 2024 - Hedge planting session on The Park, Sunday 25th February
February 2024 - Planting wildflowers, Sunday 18th February
February 2024 - Visit to Otmoor nature reserve Saturday 10th February
January 2024 - Tree planting - Sunday 21st January
January 2024 - Hedge planting - Sunday 14th January
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December 2023 - Hedge planting - Sunday 10 December
October 2023 - Grass cutting & clear up session at White Hill Quarry
September 2023 - Dragonfly walk
April - August 2023 - Wildflower walks
August 2023 - SSWCG and Amenities Charity BBQ - Sunday 27th August
August 2023 - Bat walk - Friday 4th August 2023
July 2023 - Glow worm village walk - Saturday 22nd July
June 2023 - SSWCG Quiz Night - Thursday 15th June
May 2023 - Dragonfly walk - Sunday 28th May
May 2023 - South Stoke May Fayre - Monday 1st May
March 2023 - Hedge planting session, Sunday 5th March
February 2023 - Fruit tree maintenance event on the recreation ground, Sunday 5th February
January 2023 - Hedge planting sessions, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th January
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October 2022 - Chilli & quiz night at the Perch & Pike
May - September 2022 - Sunflower growing competition
August 2022 - Bat walk and nature trail at open gardens event
July 2022 - Glow worm survey
June 2022 - Dragonfly walk
Spring & summer 2022 - Wildflower surveys
May 2022 - May Fayre stall, visit to Brightwell cum Sotwell Community Orchard, and curry & quiz night at the Perch & Pike
April 2022 - No Mow May sign design competition & Simon Booker's talk on 'Giving a Voice to the Animals of Oxfordshire' talk.
March 2022 - Jubilee Tree - South Stoke recreation ground
Throughout 2022 - Hedgerow survey
January 2022 - Hedge planting