Please read the following. The information relates to all OxMG events listed below.
To date we have not had to cancel or reschedule an talk or activity. However, this may be necessary, for example, due to inclement weather or illness of the speaker / organiser. For activities where you are required to register your attendance via email, the organiser will email you directly to inform you of any changes. For events where booking is not required (such as our Winter Talks), we will update the website and use Social Media (Facebook and Twitter) as soon as possible. Please therefore check before setting off.
We are going to have a whole host of talks, events and activities you can attend this year. At this stage the finer details of many aren't finalised so please come back to check for updates soon or become a member to get updates emailed to you.
Events are in chronological order so please scroll down the page to find our upcoming events.
Winter Talks 2016 / 2017
Our winter talks programme will begin in October 2016 and finish in March 2017, with one talk a month. Each talk will be held in the magnificent Museum of Natural History in central Oxford. Each talk will start at 7pm and have a maximum capacity of 300 people.
03 October: Dr Paul Chanin (The Mammal Society / mammal ecologist)
A dormouse in the hand
14 November: Jen Jones (Galapagos Conservation Trust)
Mammals of the Galapagos, native and invasive
05 December: Ross Mackenzie (wildlife photographer, North South Images)
Polar bears
09 January: Dr Joanna Bagniewska (University of Reading)
Ecology and behaviour of American mink in the UK
13 February: Roger Trout
Moles
13 March: Nigel Fisher (Conservator of Wytham Woods)
Deer: A Conservationist’s Friend or Foe
Twenty years of practical deer management and research in Wytham Woods
We would like to take the opportunity to thank the Museum of Natural History for supporting our winter talks programme and providing such an excellent venue.
@ Ross Mackenzie
@ National Geographic
@ Ed Austin
@ Ed Austin
Activities in 2016
Wednesday 09 March 2016
The White House - Oxfordshire Mammal Group AGM
Where & When: The White House pub (upstairs function room) on Abingdon Road, Oxford
Overview: This is an opportunity for members (and those wanting to sign up as members on the night) to let us know what has worked well and what hasn't, and influence what we do over the next year.
We'd really like to hear from you so please come along if you can.
Monday 28 March 2016
What’s that owl been eating?
Where & When: Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre (BBOWT), near Didcot, OX14 4TE. Hourly sessions between 10-1.
What to bring/wear: Hand lens if you have one
Overview: Have a go at owl pellet dissection and learn how to identify the skulls and bones of small mammals and other owl prey. Families welcome, but we think this will be too fiddly for the under 5s.
Places are limited so please email to book.
Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 April 2016
Small Mammal Trapping
Where & When: Egrove Park, Saϊd Business School, Kennington OX1 5NY; exact times to follow but will be morning (approx. 8am) and evening (5pm) on both days
What to bring/wear: Warm clothes and strong shoes/boots; camera
Overview: If you want to learn how to live trap, handle and identify small mammals, this is your opportunity; the Oxfordshire Mammal Group is offering this as a training course to increase your skills and gain the confidence to survey small mammals independently. You will need to attend as many sessions as you can and places are limited, so please email to book. Families welcome on Sunday morning for close encounters with any small mammals we catch.
Sunday 24 April 2016
Trap Grounds Wildlife Day
We will be attending the above event. Visit our stand!
Sunday 01 May 2016
Small Mammal Trapping at the Trap Grounds (May Day Morning)
Get in touch with nature on May Day morning whilst checking small mammal traps.
Timings to be confirmed on booking, but likely start of c. 8am.
Please book here. Further information will be providing on booking.
Saturday 07 May 2016
An Audience with Chris Packham
Oxfordshire Mammal Group will be attending the above event.
When: 17:30-18:30
Where: Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Event Cost: £5 - advanced booking required.
Sun. 08, Mon. 09, Tue. 10 May 2016
Dormouse Surveys
We are looking for volunteers to survey the dormouse boxes and tubes installed in woodlands throughout Oxfordshire as part of the Oxfordshire Dormouse Project.
Who can attend: Anyone is welcome to attend a survey, as long as they are an Oxon Mammal Group member and book in advance (spaces are limited). Everyone will be provided with training by the licenced ecologist on the day. Please wear appropriate clothing and bring food and drink.
The first three dates are detailed below and the map of the locations can be found here:
- 8th May 10am Outwood
- 9th May 10am Wychwood
- 10th May 10am Ash Copse
To find out more and to book please fill in the online form here.
12-15 May 2016
Small Mammal Trapping at Shotover
This will be an opportunity to gain experience and skills in small mammal trapping and identification, and to discover what small mammals are living in Shotover. Sessions will be open to members of Oxfordhsire Mammal Group and Shotover Wildlife. The sessions are as follows:
- Friday 13 May at c. 5pm set the traps
- Saturday 14 May at c. 8am to release animals
- Saturday 14 May at c. 5pm to release animals
- Sunday 15 May at c. 8am to release animals
It will be a 10-15 minute walk to where the traps are, so not receommended for children under 10, and will be limited to 8 volunteers per session. Sessions will last approximately 2 hours. Please click here to book your place. Further information will be provided when you book.
Saturday 04 June 2016
Festival of Nature
We will be attending the above event at the Museum of Natural History in Oxford. Visit our stand!
Saturday 11 June 2016
Wytham Woods - Mammal Detectives
Where & When: Meet at the car park on hill (just up from Wytham village) at 10am
What to bring/wear: Picnic lunch, suitable clothes for the weather, sturdy shoes
Overview: We will take a walk through Wytham Woods looking out for signs of mammal activity and meeting up with local experts throughout the walk. Expect to see signs of deer and badgers as well as small mammals and bats. We'll finish around 1pm at the top of the hill for a picnic lunch - please bring some snacks with you!
Who can attend: The walk is aimed at older children and adults. Young children are not recommended to attend this event.
Booking is essential as numbers are limited. Please book to reserve your place.
Sunday 17 July 2016
Spraint Sunday - Otter Day with Kirtlington Wildlife and Conservation Society
Where & When: 11:30-16:15 in Kirtlington (see full details here)
What to bring/wear: Picnic lunch and tea, suitable clothes for the weather, wellies
Overview: There are various events throughout the day including a talk, guided walk and review of field signs and camera traps. Everyone is welcome for all or any of the above but for those who wish to come on the walk numbers have to be limited to 10 adults (plus their children) from each of KWACS and OxMG – on a first come, first served basis.
Booking is essential as numbers are limited. Please book to reserve your place.
Thursday 21 July 2016
Secret Creatures of the Evenlode
Come and discover the secretive creatures of the river Evenlode with experts from Oxfordshire Bat Group, Oxfordshire Mammal Group, North Bucks Bat Group and the Evenlode Catchment Partnership (hosted by Wild Oxfordshire). We will be surveying for bats and other mammals, holding mammal tracking and bat walks and showing night-
time footage of local wildlife.
Suitable for children aged 8 and over between 7:30 and 9 pm. 9pm – 11 pm adults only.
7:30 pm meet the experts.
8:00 pm wetland walk – Spot that Spraint! Walk will last approximately 40 minutes.
10:00 pm wetland bat walk for adults
11:00 pm close
Pre-booking is essential: email Combe Mill bookings@combemill.org
Tickets cost £2 per child with accompanying adult, £3 per adult accompanying a child and £5 for un-accompanied adults. Payment in cash on the night only.
All proceeds go to the Combe Mill Outdoor Education Programme.
Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th August 2016
Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace
Oxfordshire Mammal Group will be manning a stand at the Countryfile Live Event, a family fun day to engage people with wildlife and the conutryside. There will be a whole host of attractions including wildlife zones, circus shows, dog shows, talks, farm animals, food and drink. Tickets are available on the door but are cheaper in advance from www.countryfilelive.com.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Thursday 11 September 2016
Dormouse Surveys
We are looking for volunteers to survey the dormouse boxes and tubes installed in woodlands throughout Oxfordshire as part of the Oxfordshire Dormouse Project.
Who can attend: Anyone is welcome to attend a survey, as long as they are an Oxon Mammal Group member and book in advance (spaces are limited). Everyone will be provided with training by the licenced ecologist on the day. Please wear appropriate clothing and bring food and drink.
The survey on Thursday 11 September will be at Aston Rowant (OX49 5SD) - map of the location can be found here.
To find out more and to book please fill in the online form here.
Friday 16 September 2016
Secret Creatures of the Evenlode
Come and discover the secretive creatures of the river Evenlode with experts from Oxfordshire Bat Group, Oxfordshire Mammal Group, North Bucks Bat Group and the Evenlode Catchment Partnership (hosted by Wild Oxfordshire). We will be surveying for bats and other mammals, holding mammal tracking and bat walks and showing night-
time footage of local wildlife.
Suitable for children aged 8 and over for part of the evening. Further details of timings will be provided in due course.
Pre-booking is essential: email Combe Mill bookings@combemill.org
Tickets cost £2 per child with accompanying adult, £3 per adult accompanying a child and £5 for un-accompanied adults. Payment in cash on the night only.
All proceeds go to the Combe Mill Outdoor Education Programme.
Sunday 18 September 2016
Dormouse Surveys
We are looking for volunteers to survey the dormouse boxes and tubes installed in woodlands throughout Oxfordshire as part of the Oxfordshire Dormouse Project.
Who can attend: Anyone is welcome to attend a survey, as long as they are an Oxon Mammal Group member and book in advance (spaces are limited). Everyone will be provided with training by the licenced ecologist on the day. Please wear appropriate clothing and bring food and drink.
The survey on Sunday 18 September will be at Outwood (OX20 1BH) - map of the locations can be found here.
To find out more and to book please fill in the online form here.
Friday 28th & Saturday 29th October 2016
Small Mammal Trapping at Lye Valley
Where & When: There are three small mammal trapping sessions in Lye Valley Park, details of which are provided below. If coming from central Headington proceed down Windmill Road on to the Slade, and turn right into the nature reserve soon after passing Girdlestone Road.
Friday 28th at 16:00 to set the traps
Saturday 29th at 08:00 to check and re-set the traps
Saturday 29th at 15:00 to check and collect the traps
Bring appropriate footwear (wellies, stout walking boots) and warm clothing.
Only OxMG and Friends of Lye Valley members can attend this free event.
Booking is essential for insurance reasons. Email Alison to register for the event, letting her know which session(s) you would like to attend.
NOTE: The red pin on the map below is not at the exact entrance (see description above).
Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th October 2016
Harvest Mouse Nest Survey Days
Where & When: Chimney Meadows main visitor car park (OX18 2EH or SP 35389 01255). From A420 take the road signposted to Tadpole Bridge and Bampton. Turn right just after Tadpole Bridge and Trout Inn, follow signs to Chimney.
11am to 4pm (although you can leave when you like)
Bring appropriate footwear (wellies, stout walking boots), wet weather and warm clothing, gloves and your keen eye-sight. Bring a packed lunch with you.
Only OxMG and BBOWT volunteers can attend this free training event. Booking is essential as places are limited. Email Amanda to register for the event, letting her know which day you would like to attend. If you are a BBOWT volunteer please email Colin Williams.
Winter Talks 2016 / 2017
Our winter talks programme will begin in October 2016 and finish in March 2017, with one talk a month. Each talk will be held in the magnificent Museum of Natural History in central Oxford. Each talk will start at 7pm and have a maximum capacity of 300 people.
03 October: Dr Paul Chanin (The Mammal Society / mammal ecologist)
A dormouse in the hand
14 November: Jen Jones (Galapagos Conservation Trust)
Mammals of the Galapagos, native and invasive
05 December: Ross Mackenzie (wildlife photographer, North South Images)
Polar bears
09 January: Dr Joanna Bagniewska (University of Reading)
Ecology and behaviour of American mink in the UK
13 February: Roger Trout
Moles
13 March: Nigel Fisher (Conservator of Wytham Woods)
Deer: A Conservationist’s Friend or Foe
Twenty years of practical deer management and research in Wytham Woods
We would like to take the opportunity to thank the Museum of Natural History for supporting our winter talks programme and providing such an excellent venue.
@ Ross Mackenzie
@ National Geographic
@ Ed Austin
@ Ed Austin
Please Note: For insurance purposes oudoor events are open only to Oxfordshire Mammal Group members. For more information about membership please see our Membership page.