The Friends of Raleigh Park

#RaleighParkOx

@RaleighparkOxford

Subscriptions for 2023-24

The Friends subscriptions of £5 per person are now due for the year 2023 - 2024. Please preferably make a standing order to 20-65-18 a/c 93057402 to Friends of Raleigh Park with reference your name or send a cheque to Stephen Parkinson (Chairman) 8 Yarnells Hill, Oxford, OX2 9BD. Tel 01865 724525 or contact David Brown (Secretary) [email protected].

If you are interested in taking an active role in the Friends, please come forward. The Chair and Secretary will be happy to discuss what is involved.

We comply with the General Data Protection Regulation. The data we hold is your email address and subscription; this data has not and will never be shared with anyone.

Dates for your calendar:

Sat Mar 23 2024 - Friends of Raleigh Park Volunteers

Next work party is Sat Mar 23 2024, we meet at the entrance to Raleigh Park from the footpath off Raleigh Park Road at 9:30 at location what3words melt.rarely.wedge

We are clearing some coppiced willow & Alder and fallen trees from the main fen and cut and rake the tongue. Also remove seed heads of Greater reedmace from the pond if we have time and sow some seeds donated from Lye Valley.

Friends of Raleigh Park volunteers normally meet at 09:30 - 13:30 on the last Saturday of the month.

Also, a reminder about ticks. To my knowledge they have not been a problem at Raleigh Park but will certainly be present. To avoid tick bites and the risk of Lyme disease, please wear closed toe footwear, long trousers tucked into socks, and long sleaved shirt tucked into trousers. Some people like to spray their clothes with insect repellent too. Advice on avoiding tick bites and Lyme disease can be found here

Friends of Raleigh Park workparties are normally led by Adam Bows and are covered by The Freshwater Habitat's Trust insurance. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Brown Hairstreak egg hunt

Brown Hairstreak Egg
Brown Hairstreak Egg
Brown Hairstreak Egg
Brown Hairstreak Egg

Our annual hunt for the eggs of the rare brown hairstreak butterfly took place on Monday 15th January at the bottom of the Park, by the big gates to Harcourt Hill, where most of the Park's blackthorn bushes are concentrated. For those who have time and energy, there is the option of continuing the hunt at the top of Harcourt Hill, on the blackthorn bushes by the bridleway.

We located and tagged at least 10 egg sites with twelve eggs, plus some eggs from a different species.

Butterfly Conservation are keeping track of the numbers of this rare butterfly

Boxing Day Walk 2023 was on 26 December

We started with mulled wine and mince pies at the Viewpoint, and enjoyed a bracing walk round the Park.

We noticed on the walk: