Cowley Marsh Local Nature Reserve
Brown hairstreak butterfly eggs found
For full-size photos see
Judy's Tweet 2 November 2020
Barracks Lane SLINC* - Tweet 5 Nov 2020
by one of the Friends of Lye Valley:
"Some good news! A volunteer has just finished searching for eggs of the scarce Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae) butterfly at Barracks Lane, a community run green space at the other end of a green corridor to us, and found a record number of 55 eggs, up from 38 last year!"
Brown hairstreak butterfly, Thecla betulae -
see information from Butterfly Conservation
*Sites of Local Importance for Nature Conservation (SLINCs) are non-statutory designated sites of borough importance identified by the relevant local authority and the Wildlife Trust.
Brown hairstreak butterfly eggs found
For full-size photos see
Judy's Tweet 2 November 2020
Barracks Lane SLINC* - Tweet 5 Nov 2020
by one of the Friends of Lye Valley:
"Some good news! A volunteer has just finished searching for eggs of the scarce Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae) butterfly at Barracks Lane, a community run green space at the other end of a green corridor to us, and found a record number of 55 eggs, up from 38 last year!"
Brown hairstreak butterfly, Thecla betulae -
see information from Butterfly Conservation
*Sites of Local Importance for Nature Conservation (SLINCs) are non-statutory designated sites of borough importance identified by the relevant local authority and the Wildlife Trust.
Barracks Lane Meadow is a small (0.6ha) Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation (SLINC) in the north-western corner of Cowley Marsh Park. It can be seen on Google maps satellite view next to Oxford Spires Academy. As indicated on old maps, it is the last part of the ancient Cowley Common. Further information is given on Oxford City Council's website.
The three photos below were taken there by Judy on 18 February 2020, when she was among volunteers cutting back the blackthorn scrub. Blackthorn is favoured for egg-laying by the brown hairstreak butterfly, Thecla betulae, which is now rare in southern England and Wales (UK Biodiversity Action Plan: Priority Species). Cutting back the blackthorn not only prevents it invading the meadow, but also promotes new growth, which is preferred by brown hairstreak butterflies looking for sites to lay eggs. See Judy's Tweets of volunteers at work that day. The National Trust website for Coombe Hill has full information about yellow meadow ants.
The three photos below were taken there by Judy on 18 February 2020, when she was among volunteers cutting back the blackthorn scrub. Blackthorn is favoured for egg-laying by the brown hairstreak butterfly, Thecla betulae, which is now rare in southern England and Wales (UK Biodiversity Action Plan: Priority Species). Cutting back the blackthorn not only prevents it invading the meadow, but also promotes new growth, which is preferred by brown hairstreak butterflies looking for sites to lay eggs. See Judy's Tweets of volunteers at work that day. The National Trust website for Coombe Hill has full information about yellow meadow ants.
Use of Cowley Marsh Park wildflower meadow for temporary extension
to Oxford City Council's Marsh Lane depot
Objections submitted by Dr Judy Webb
Some comments submitted since the 2 Aug 2017 meeting of the East Area Planning Committee
Oxford Mail articles: 28 April 2017 by Michael Benke and
by Nathan Briant 29 July 2017 9 Aug 2017 12 Aug 2017 21 August 2017
This is Oxfordshire article 4 Aug 2017 by Nathan Briant
See also the letter published in The Oxford Mail, 8 May 2017 from Judith Harley (see left carrying poster), a member of the Old Temple Cowley Residents’ Association, who have been campaigning against the loss of this wildflower meadow area
Photo, left: Oxford Mail reporter, Nathan Briant, and a photographer came to the park on 10 August, when a group of local people were protesting against the loss of the meadow area. See Oxford Mail article and photos 12 Aug 2017
The wildflower meadow area that will be used for the extension to the depot is marked as 'Cowley Marsh Playground' on this Open Street Map. (Play area has since been moved). Photos taken on 10 Aug 2017 and a plan showing location of the meadow area, cut a couple of weeks earlier. Photos taken by Judy Webb of the meadow area at a time when the flowers were in bloom (Click on the white circle with an 'i' when in slideshow mode to see information.)
The decision to grant planning consent for a temporary (5-year) extension of the City Council's Cowley Marsh depot made at the meeting of the East Area Planning Committee on 2 Aug 2017* was called in by Cllr Ruth Wilkinson with the backing of Cllrs Abbasi, Azad, Brandt, Fooks, Gant, Goddard, Haines, Simmons, Thomas, Wade and Wolff, who made up the 12 Councillors required for a call-in. (*6 votes to 3 - Cllrs Ruth Wilkinson, John Tanner and Dick Wolff voted against).
The application was heard again on Monday, 21 August by the Planning Review Committee and granted - 6 voted in favour and 1, Cllr Craig Simmons, voted against. A member of the committee who had registered an intention to be present, Cllr Mohammed Altaf-Khan, did not attend. Prior to the beginning of the meeting it was announced that he was stuck in motorway traffic and that he would have had to be present from the beginning of the meeting to be eligible to vote.
There was a photoshoot outside the Town Hall prior to the meeting - see Oxford Mail article 21 August 2017
to Oxford City Council's Marsh Lane depot
Objections submitted by Dr Judy Webb
Some comments submitted since the 2 Aug 2017 meeting of the East Area Planning Committee
Oxford Mail articles: 28 April 2017 by Michael Benke and
by Nathan Briant 29 July 2017 9 Aug 2017 12 Aug 2017 21 August 2017
This is Oxfordshire article 4 Aug 2017 by Nathan Briant
See also the letter published in The Oxford Mail, 8 May 2017 from Judith Harley (see left carrying poster), a member of the Old Temple Cowley Residents’ Association, who have been campaigning against the loss of this wildflower meadow area
Photo, left: Oxford Mail reporter, Nathan Briant, and a photographer came to the park on 10 August, when a group of local people were protesting against the loss of the meadow area. See Oxford Mail article and photos 12 Aug 2017
The wildflower meadow area that will be used for the extension to the depot is marked as 'Cowley Marsh Playground' on this Open Street Map. (Play area has since been moved). Photos taken on 10 Aug 2017 and a plan showing location of the meadow area, cut a couple of weeks earlier. Photos taken by Judy Webb of the meadow area at a time when the flowers were in bloom (Click on the white circle with an 'i' when in slideshow mode to see information.)
The decision to grant planning consent for a temporary (5-year) extension of the City Council's Cowley Marsh depot made at the meeting of the East Area Planning Committee on 2 Aug 2017* was called in by Cllr Ruth Wilkinson with the backing of Cllrs Abbasi, Azad, Brandt, Fooks, Gant, Goddard, Haines, Simmons, Thomas, Wade and Wolff, who made up the 12 Councillors required for a call-in. (*6 votes to 3 - Cllrs Ruth Wilkinson, John Tanner and Dick Wolff voted against).
The application was heard again on Monday, 21 August by the Planning Review Committee and granted - 6 voted in favour and 1, Cllr Craig Simmons, voted against. A member of the committee who had registered an intention to be present, Cllr Mohammed Altaf-Khan, did not attend. Prior to the beginning of the meeting it was announced that he was stuck in motorway traffic and that he would have had to be present from the beginning of the meeting to be eligible to vote.
There was a photoshoot outside the Town Hall prior to the meeting - see Oxford Mail article 21 August 2017
Planning application for a temporary extension to the City Council's Cowley Marsh Depot and permanent extension to the car park -
see Oxford City Planning web page - search for 17/00617/CT3
see Oxford City Planning web page - search for 17/00617/CT3