Rycote Meadow Conservation Project Continues

Rycote Meadow

Rycote Meadow, bordered by the Cuttle Brook on its eastern side and by Oxford Road on the south, is a rare remnant of precious floodplain meadow, home to a rich variety of plant species and the animals that depend upon them. A number of conservationists and conservation bodies such as the River Thame Conservation Trust, Wild Oxfordshire, the Cuttle Brook Local Nature Reserve and the RSPB have commented on the importance of the site.

Thame Town Council have been working with Thame Green Living and Cuttle Brook Conservation Volunteers to help protect the site for the future.

Initial work has included the enhancement of the important area of hedging along the western side of the Meadow to provide even more protection for wildlife – birds and the invertebrates on which they feed principally – interspersed with trees of a modest size to contribute more habitat and variety. The hedging and trees are all native species indigenous to Oxfordshire.

The plans over the next two years are to enhance further the existing flora of the site, to provide a richer aquatic habitat and to create a pedestrian path from the Thame Meadows estate to the Oxford Road.  This will enable residents to enjoy a tranquil area and it will also provide protection for wildlife.

The next phase of activity is likely to start in June so you may start to see work being undertaken on the site.

Please be assured that the work being delivered is part of a conservation project and not a building project. 

This work includes:

  1. A new wetland scrape which will be created within the meadow to maintain a more aquatic nature conducive to smaller creatures and plants. This is not a pond as such and will not directly link to the Cuttle Brook itself. This part of the work will be delivered by Cuttle Brook Conservation Volunteers.
  2. The construction of a footpath to give a new public access from Oxford Road to the rear of the site. This will be made ready to link to the Thame Meadows Estate and footpath access to the River Thame beyond.

The work is supported by Trust for Oxfordshire Environment with advice from the River Thame Conservation Trust and Wild Oxfordshire. More information will follow in future newsletters.