Lower Windrush Valley Project - What we do
Information about us, research, reports and volunteering opportunities.
The Lower Windrush Valley covers 28 square kilometres of West Oxfordshire, incorporating the floodplain of the River Windrush from Witney to where it joins the River Thames at Newbridge.
Over the last 60 years the landscape character of the valley has been transformed by mineral extraction with large areas of the riverside pasture transformed into a mosaic of open water.
With mineral extraction set to continue for many years to come the Lower Windrush Valley Project (LWVP) was created by Oxfordshire County Council to create and implement an environmental strategy for this area.
Initiatives
Since 2001, the LWVP has worked with many environmental organisations, mineral operators, landowners and the local community to co-ordinate, deliver and help manage a wide range of initiatives that aim to:
- strengthen and develop the evolving landscape of the valley
- protect and enhance the biodiversity it supports
- improve opportunities for people to access and enjoy the countryside
- raise awareness, understanding and involvement in the diverse issues that influence the environment in the valley.
Contact us to find out more about the Lower Windrush Valley Project.
Research and reports
The bibliography and associated reports below give information on the Lower Windrush Valley Project’s, biodiversity, history and our work within the project area. Most of the documents can be accessed online. Please contact the project office to request access to any hardcopy reports or other file formats.
- LWVP Bibliography (pdf format, 130Kb)
- LWVP Annual Highlights Report 2021 (pdf format, 760Kb)
- LWVP Kingfisher quest summary report 2020 (2.2MB)
- Review of the Lower Windrush Valley Project 2001 - 2014 (pdf format, 221Kb)
- Lower Windrush Valley Project strategic plan 2015 - 2025 (pdf format, 2Mb)
- Clean Water for Wildlife: Lower Windrush Valley case study 2016 (pdf format, 389Kb)
- Clean Water for Wildlife: Lower Windrush Valley case study 2017 (pdf format, 768Kb)
- Yellow Fish Project 2018 (pdf format, 800KB)
- Water vole update – Lower River Windrush 2016 Report (pdf format, 61Kb)
- Water vole update – Lower River Windrush 2016 Map (pdf format, 4Mb)
- Water vole recovery project (pdf format, 866Kb)
- Importance of the Lower Windrush Valley Gravel Pits for Wintering Wildfowl (pdf format, 1.4Mb)
- Bird Species Records from Standlake Common and Rushy Common Nature Reserves 2015 - 2018 (pdf format, 432Kb)
- Review of biodiversity opportunities in the Lower Windrush Valley (pdf format,11MB)
- Review of biodiversity opportunities in the Lower Windrush Valley (accessible version) (pdf format, 250KB)
- Cogges Lane topic paper (pdf format, 3.6MB)
- Planting for pollinators (pdf format, 2Mb)
Funding and support
The Lower Windrush Valley Project is currently funded and supported by Oxfordshire County Council, West Oxfordshire District Council, and Smith and Sons (Bletchington) Ltd.
Friends of the Lower Windrush Valley - volunteering opportunities
Practical task group
Join our practical site management sessions at local nature reserves – a great way to meet new people, keep fit and enjoy the outdoors.
No experience is necessary and tools and training are provided.
We meet on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at either Standlake Common or Rushy Common Nature Reserves.
For more information about volunteering please contact us.
Event support
We run a small number of events throughout the year and are always looking for enthusiastic helpers to lend a hand!
Bird record data entry
Every month we collect hundreds of bird records from our two nature reserves so keeping on top of the data entry can be quite a task. If you’re able to spend an hour or two a week entering records we’d love to hear from you. You will need a computer at home with Microsoft Excel in order to help with data entry.