Freshwater Habitats Trust hosts Big Nature day at Hinksey Heights
16th August 2022
Freshwater Habitats Trust and Hinksey Heights Nature Trail are holding a free, family-friendly event on Monday 29 August. The Big Nature Day will feature freshwater and wetland-inspired activities and arts events for people of all ages, including pond dipping, a scything demonstration and guided walks.
Held at Hinksey Heights Nature Trail, near Oxford, the Big Nature Day will include a performance by Café Reason Butoh Dance Theatre of a new dance piece exploring the botanic diversity, natural history and seasonal patterns of Oxfordshire’s freshwaters and wetlands. Visitors can also join workshops with professional dancers and choreographers Helen Edwards and Elizabeth Spight.
Freshwater Habitats Trust has organised the outdoor event to celebrate its GroWet project, which has involved people across Oxfordshire nurturing rare wetland plants at home and in community centres over the summer. This autumn, the Oxford-based national conservation charity will move the plants to their natural habitats in Oxfordshire’s wild ponds and wetlands.
The Big Nature Day is an opportunity to explore Hinksey Heights Nature Trail and find out about volunteering with Freshwater Habitats Trust. With the help of volunteers, the charity is now restoring one-and-a-half hectares of fen and introducing rare fen plants to the site.
GRCF trainee Paola Perez working on the GroWet project
Freshwater Habitats Trust Community Engagement Officer Lizzie Every said: “We’ve been running a successful series of events in and around Oxford throughout the GroWet project but wanted to do something really big for the local community this August bank holiday.
“The Big Nature Day is a true celebration of GroWet and of Oxfordshire’s freshwater and wetlands. We’ve organised activities for nature-lovers big and small – from pond dipping to contemporary dance. We can’t wait to welcome people to Hinksey Heights to celebrate Oxfordshire’s exceptional freshwater habitats with the local community.”
Freshwater Habitats Trust Community Engagement Officer Lizzie Every said: “We’ve been running a successful series of events in and around Oxford throughout the GroWet project but wanted to do something really big for the local community this August bank holiday.
“The Big Nature Day is a true celebration of GroWet and of Oxfordshire’s wetlands. We’ve organised activities for nature-lovers big and small – from pond dipping to contemporary dance. We can’t wait to welcome people to Hinksey Heights to celebrate Oxfordshire’s exceptional freshwater habitats with the local community.”
The Big Nature Day takes place at Hinksey Heights from 10.00 until 16.00 on Monday 29 August 2022. Entry is free, with no booking required, and refreshments will be available, including a barbecue.
The Big Nature Day also celebrates the successful rebuilding of the nature trail by a team of dedicated volunteers, over two years. This has involved laying down new limestone paths and boardwalks across the entire 2.5km of pathways.
GroWet is part of Freshwater Habitats Trust’s Building Oxfordshire’s Freshwater Network project. This major initiative marks the beginning of the charity’s new approach to protecting and restoring freshwater habitats by building the Freshwater Network.
It is funded through the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund and supported by the National Trust, Oxford Botanic Garden, People-in-Action, River Thame Conservation Trust, Thames Valley Wildflower Meadow Restoration Project and Thames Water.