Highlights from Noticing Nature Events 2026

After a successful first year, our free Noticing Nature events returned for 2026, helping people to slow down, look closely at the natural world around them, and discover the incredible wildlife that can be found in both urban greenspaces and countryside habitats.

From spring wildflowers and butterflies to great crested newts and bats, this year's programme offered plenty of opportunities to connect with nature, learn new identification skills and contribute valuable wildlife records.

Aston's Eyot and Iffley Meadows

We kicked things off the first couple of events during City Nature Challenge. At Aston's Eyot, Ruth from the Friends of Aston's Eyot introduced us to the reserve's habitats and wildlife, where we spotted a newt in the recently created ponds, woodland flowers including ramsons and red campion, and a colourful display of orange-tip, holly blue and brimstone butterflies.

For the final day of the City Nature Challenge, 27th April we enjoyed another lovely morning at BBOWT’s Iffley Meadows. We admired Oxfordshire's county flower, the striking snake's-head fritillary, while Julie Kerans, our Biodiversity Officer introduced the fascinating world of grasses, rushes and sedges. Alongside the botanical discoveries, we enjoyed birdsong, heard muntjac calling and spotted butterflies basking in the sunshine.

Participants particularly appreciated the friendly and welcoming atmosphere. One described it as a “good learning environment, in good company, with positive people,” while another praised how Julie shared her knowledge so clearly and warmly. Others enjoyed meeting like-minded people and feeling part of a global community recording nature through the City Nature Challenge.


Participants walk along a sunlit path through a green wetland landscape, surrounded by tall reeds and leafy trees during a guided nature walk.

Rushy Common and Tar Lakes

Our visit to Rushy Common and Tar Lakes with Lower Windrush Valley Project, showcased the rich biodiversity restored from this former sand and gravel extraction site.

Birdsong accompanied us throughout the morning, with species including cetti's warbler, reed warbler and cuckoo. Around the lakes we found water mint, cuckooflower, whirligig beetles, blue-tailed damselflies and orchard ermine moth webbing, while little egrets, oystercatchers and red-crested pochards provided plenty to admire.

One attendee described the morning as “relaxed and interesting” and particularly enjoyed learning how to recognise striped plant bugs and alderflies.


A mayfly caught in a spider’s web hangs among reeds beside a pond, with the water and surrounding vegetation softly blurred in the background.

Dean Common

Despite persistent rain, Dean Common certainly didn't disappoint. Guided by Neil from Wychwood Forest Trust, we explored this former sand quarry and learned how its nutrient-poor soils have created a unique habitat, ideal for the resident amphibian population. 

A major highlight was being able to get a close look at great crested newts. Julie also introduced us to some of the site's notable plants, including spotted orchids and the vivid blue flowers of viper's bugloss. Discussions about habitat restoration, natural recovery and the role of grazing wildlife added to a memorable morning. One attendee commented that the knowledgeable leaders had “opened my eyes,” while someone else noted that, despite the weather, the group still had an enjoyable time and saw plenty.


Participants wearing waterproof clothing gather in a wet grassland habitat during rainy weather while a guide demonstrates wildlife survey techniques under umbrellas and rain jackets.

Harcourt Hill

It may have been a small group on 12 June at Harcourt Hill, but we still spotted plenty! Overcast skies soon gave way to warmer conditions and increasing wildlife activity.  From pyramidal orchids and oxeye daisies to hoverflies, damselflies and even a probable breeding pair of skylarks We also enjoyed hearing from Hannah at the Oxford Preservation Trust about the site's history and management.


A wildflower meadow filled with white oxeye daisies stretches across the landscape beneath a dramatic cloudy sky, with trees and distant hills on the horizon.

St Mary’s Fields, Kidlington

At St Mary's Fields, we discovered just how much wildlife thrives in a well-managed community greenspace.

A grass snake found beneath a reptile refugium was a particular highlight, alongside a fantastic variety of butterflies including marbled white, gatekeeper, comma and meadow brown. The species-rich grassland was also full of wildflowers, with bird's-foot-trefoil, common knapweed, meadowsweet, meadow vetchling and tufted vetch all providing colour and nectar for pollinators. Thank you to Julia and the volunteer team for sharing their knowledge, enthusiasm and the incredible work they do to care for this special site.


Participants on a guided nature walk gather around a wildlife survey activity in a sunny meadow bordered by dense green woodland.

Barton Fields

Returning to Barton Fields for a second year proved just as rewarding. With support from Abingdon Naturalists' Society and Wild Oxfordshire, participants explored the site's wildlife using sweep nets and pitfall traps.

Despite a cool start, the group recorded an impressive range of species, including hairy shield bug, common field grasshopper, banded general soldier fly and burnet companion moth. As the weather brightened, butterflies such as painted lady, common blue, ringlet and gatekeeper became increasingly active, while emperor dragonflies patrolled the site. A slow-worm discovered beneath a reptile mat provided one of the day's most memorable moments, and we were delighted to welcome visitors all the way from New Zealand.


Participants gather in a grassland meadow as one person kneels to examine and demonstrate a small wildlife specimen while others look on during a noticing nature event.

Brasenose Wood, Shotover

August's hot weather made Brasenose Wood a welcome place to explore. Local expert Ivan Wright introduced us to the woodland's history, management and remarkable plant life, including wood-sedge, pendulous sedge, orpine and the locally scarce spurge-laurel.

One attendee enjoyed discovering a new entrance to the wood and described the event as a “relaxed wandering around the wood with others.” Another said that learning about saw-wort and the woodland’s other plants had made them want to learn even more.

A behavioural highlight was watching more than ten red admirals feeding on sap runs produced by an oak tree. Elsewhere, nuthatches, treecreepers, green woodpeckers and other woodland birds reminded us of the importance of these mature woodland habitats.


A mature broadleaf tree stands in a sunlit woodland clearing surrounded by dense shrubs and undergrowth beneath a clear blue sky.

Bat Walk at Horspath Wildlife Conservation Site

Our final Noticing Nature event of the year took place at Horspath Wildlife Conservation Site, where we used bat detectors to listen to and identify common pipistrelles, serotines and Myotis species, with a possible brown long-eared bat also recorded. One of the greatest pleasures of the evening was seeing people's excitement as they heard bat calls for the first time and discovered the hidden wildlife that emerges after sunset.


A group of people stand on a woodland path surrounded by mature trees and dense vegetation, listening to a guide in a bright orange high-visibility vest.

Looking ahead

This year's events once again demonstrated that nature is all around us, whether in city parks, restored quarries, ancient woodland or community greenspaces. Together, we recorded hundreds of species, learned from local experts, developed new identification skills and gained a deeper appreciation of the wildlife that shares our landscapes.

The feedback we received showed how much people valued the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, the opportunity to learn directly from knowledgeable local experts, and the chance to meet others with a shared interest in nature. Many attendees also told us that they would like to see more events like these in the future.

Thank you to everyone who joined us throughout the year, and to all our volunteer leaders and partner organisations who generously shared their knowledge and enthusiasm.

Thanks also to The National Lottery Community Fund’s WISH Partnership Waste Innovation Station Headquarters for supporting these events.

Keep an eye on TVERC’s website and social media channels for future events and opportunities to get involved in recording wildlife across Berkshire and Oxfordshire.