2025
2026
2025
2026
Park Farm Marston 103
Managed by University of Oxford - Oxford Green Estate
Since Jan 2025
In England, GB
PFM103
This chronolog combines 469 photos from 333 contributors. Learn more
About this site
[bottom of bridge, facing North East overlooking main water meadows and cyclepath]
This is part of New Marston Meadows SSSI, UK Priority Habitat of ‘Lowland Meadow’
In summer, the site is grazed by cattle and floods extensively and frequently in winter. Waterlogging has increased dominance of wetland vegetation like tall clonal sedges in the meadow areas nearest the river. This has been historically used as a haymeadow during the various history of ownership.
A cycle track runs through the middle, sometimes is impassable due to water depth.
About University of Oxford - Oxford Green Estate
Wytham Woods
Wytham Woods is an ancient semi-natural woodland, which has been owned and maintained by the University of Oxford since 1942. Its 1000 acres are a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and are one of the most researched pieces of woodland in the world, exceptionally rich in flora and fauna, with over 500 species of plants, a wealth of woodland habitats, and 800 species of butterflies and moths. The Woods can be divided into four main habitats.
The forested area is a simple three-way split between ancient semi-natural woodland, secondary woodland, and modern plantations. The fourth key habitat is the limestone grassland found at the top of the hill. Other smaller habitats include a valley-side mire and a series of ponds. The ancient woods date back to the last Ice Age, while the secondary woodland dates to the seventeenth century and the plantations to the 1950s and 1960s.
Through our Chronolog stations, we hope to gain greater insights into how climate change and other processes are changing phenology within the woods. Our post descriptions were provided by https://theoldmanofwytham.com/.
Website
https://www.wythamwoods.ox.ac.uk
Park Farm, Marston:
Park Farm is a SSSI Water Meadow owned by the University of Oxford. We are recording the habitat management to improve biodiversity and maintain historical watermeadows.
The surrounding footpaths and cyclpaths are perfect for citizens to be involved in the recording of the changes from the habiat management.
Bear Wood:
Bear Wood is a newly planted Community Woodland area alongside the River Thames. This land is part of the Estate of Wytham Woods, and has been landscaped from scrub, planted with home grown acorns, and blossom trees. The Wood is named after the Bear Hill behind this long section of bank rising from the Thames up to the farmed field fence.
We are recording the development of a newly planted woodland as well as the impact of a community outreach initiative.
Bear Wood has open gated foot access from The Thames Path, near to Eynsham lock. There is a nearby bus stop close to the Toll Bridge.
Court Place Gardens
Court Place Gardens was acquired by the University of Oxford in 1966. It is a mosaic of lowland mixed deciduous woodland with elements of calcareous alkaline fen, wet woodland, and old punting channels. Scattered ornamental, non-native species can still be found from when the site was the manor house's ornamental garden.