2026
2026
Bear Wood Oak Plantation 2
Managed by University of Oxford - Oxford Green Estate
Since Jun 2026
In England, GB
PFM107
This chronolog combines 1 photo from 1 contributor. Learn more
About this site
A new woodland by the northwest corner of Wytham Woods, located between the Thames and the current woodland boundary. Bear Wood, named after the hill which rises up alongside, has a vital role in the future of Wytham and its surrounding environment, which includes extracting and storing carbon dioxide from the air and providing a habitat for a wealth of wildlife.
This is a new Oak plantation, and was planted in autumn 2025 by the local community, with home grown acorns. Previous to the planting, we gave away acorns from selected ancient oaks to grow for a few years at home, before bringing their oaklings to plant in this relandscaped space.
Approximately 150 Oaklings are planted, with a variety of dedications and sentiments, by the community people.
This land is University owned, but has two footpaths running through it - one being the Thames Path. Access is footpath only - from the Toll bridge via a path near the bus stop. There is no public parking by Eynsham Lock.
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.