This fabulous offer is open to organisations and child minders, parents & carers  in Witney,  and those that run sessions for parents and pre-school children here in the town.

Come and join our Nature NOW Forest School Leaders for a session of child-led exploration in a green space near you.
Each session will be led by two qualified and experienced Forest School Leaders who will bring simple resources and offer support for you to go off on an adventure with your pre-schoolers.

This is also an opportunity to meet and share ideas with other
childminders, parents and carers, and for the little ones to meet and have fun together in the outdoors. Together we will build nature connections and confidence to explore new natural spaces.

How to book – book early as spaces are limited!

1. Email us to book a place and find out more information contactnaturenow@gmail.com

There is no cost for the sessions.
2. We will email to confirm your place and send you a booking link with further details on directions, public transport, parking, accessibility, etc.

Session times and dates – from 9:30 – 12:30 drop in anytime!

● Thursday: 28th September – Mill Meadow
● Thursday: 5th October – Ducklington Lake
● Thursday: 12th October – Mill Meadow
● Thursday: 19th October – Ducklington Lake
● Thursday: 2nd November – Mill Meadow
● Thursday: 9th November – Ducklington Lake

Rain will not stop play, wild wind and lightning will! – if wind or lightning is forecast, we will reschedule to another date.

You will be responsible for your children’s safety at all times.

These sessions are generously funded by Witney Town
Council, by way of a grant.

The Nature NOW project was originally set up by Where The
Fruit Is and Oxfordshire County Council, in response to the
pandemic and the lockdowns that stole so many
opportunities for children (and adults!) to play together.

Nature NOW (Nurturing Our Wellbeing) helps children and
adults, whether parents or carers, grow with and in nature.
Supported by Witney Town Council

It is with a special sense of pride that we hear that our dear friends in Witney’s French Twin-Town, Le Touquet will pay a remarkable homage to our late Queen when it renames its airport Elizabeth II Le Touquet-Paris-Plage International Airport.

Councillor Owen Collins Mayor of Witney commented,

“We are deeply touched and grateful by this gesture from the town of Le Touquet, acknowledging her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The people of France took the Queen to their hearts during her lifetime, and as well as providing a lasting memorial to her relationship to the country, this renaming will also further strengthen the bond between Le Touquet and Witney, which has stood for over forty years and which we hope will share in the Queen’s longevity.“

Officials sought permission from King Charles III less than a week after the Queen’s death in September last year and permission was granted earlier this week.

It is hoped that the strong links and close friendship that already bind Witney and Le Touquet will be felt throughout the UK.

Witney has been twinned with Le Touquet Paris Plage (‘Paris by the Sea’) since 1980 and over this time we have shared a great number of civic and cultural events, friendly challenges and games and fostered some warm friendships. We even have a little area of Witney in the Woolgate Centre named Le Touquet Square.

The official document explains (in French) the historic links between Le Touquet and the UK and contains more details about the agreement.

Looking for things to occupy your young people over the summer holidays? We have a handy list of activities, some paid and some free. There is something for everyone from toddlers with their mums to young adults.

Information for this poster was supplied by the following

organisations and was correct at the time of publication.

Apcam

Oxfordshire County Council

Thames Valley Police

West Oxfordshire District Council

Witney Community Church

Witney Town Council

Open this Holiday Youth Provision pdf which has clickable links to take you through to more information.

A grieving 9-year-old girl’s touching wish to send a letter to her grandparents who had passed away has led to the installation of post boxes to heaven in 36 crematoriums nationwide.

Witney Town Council decided that Matilda Handy’s idea is such a lovely one, that they wanted to make this service available to Witney residents too, so the Council is delighted to be installing the cream-coloured post boxes in both Tower Hill and Windrush cemeteries.

Councillor Rachel Crouch, Chair of Halls, Cemeteries and Allotments commented,

“What a beautiful idea and such a kind way to support grieving families.”

Feedback has shown that the act of writing a letter, or posting a card or picture to a lost loved one has brought therapeutic comfort to many people using the boxes and it is hoped that ours too, will offer comfort to those grieving on a daily basis and help ease the more acute feelings of loss felt on anniversaries and special days.

Melanie Jones, Chair of Witney Friends of the Cemeteries group thinks this is wonderful news,

“I am delighted that one of the Post Boxes to Heaven is now in place at Windrush cemetery. This offers those who are missing their loved ones the opportunity to post cards and letters to heaven. Witney Town Council is always keen to support those who are grieving in any way possible, and we thank them.

We are looking forward to seeing a post box in Tower Hill cemetery too, in due course.”

The post boxes are not exclusively for use by those with people buried in the town’s cemeteries.  They are available to anyone who is grieving that might take comfort in this connection with their loved ones.

You don’t need a stamp as the boxes will be administered and emptied, when full, by Town Council staff and the contents will be treated sensitively, confidentially and with respect.

We do ask that you don’t post anything other than paper and please do not put anything precious that you will want to keep in the boxes as we cannot return things once they have been posted.

THE CLOSING DATE IS FRIDAY 21ST JULY

Windrush Day, 22 June 2023, marks the 75^th anniversary of the arrival at Tilbury docks, of the HMT Empire Windrush Ship bringing the first few hundred British Caribbean citizens, who were invited to come and help rebuild a nation that was suffering labour shortages following the impact of WWII.

The day celebrates the contributions of nearly half a million people who made that same journey between 1948 and 1970. It recognises the positive impact and historic contribution of the Windrush generation and their descendants to our culture and country.

The river Windrush, after which the ship was named, runs through our town. To acknowledge this link and to offer an opportunity to learn more about this fascinating period of history and the experiences, good and bad, of those brave people, Witney Town Council has installed a small Windrush reading corner in 1863 café bar.

There is a selection of books for all ages for café users to read and a risograph print based on original illustration by Kim Thompson depicts the arrival of the Windrush generation in 1948. 100% of the profits from these prints go to BME Cancer Communities here in the UK.

Cllr Ruth Smith, Leader of Witney Town Council commented,

“We all use the word Windrush in daily life, with so many things named after our beautiful river. Our ears prick up at news items about the Windrush Generation and their descendants. We are grateful for all they have brought to UK society and we stand in solidarity with those still affected by injustice. These resources are a chance for Witney residents to learn more and to appreciate the history and legacy more deeply.”

Cllr Owen Collins, Mayor of Witney, added,

“I don’t think we all make the connection between our own River Windrush and the Windrush Generation, but that remarkable generation, and the ship that carried that, took its name from the river, like so many other businesses and locations throughout our town. It’s right that we commemorate and celebrate this connection, and on this 75^th anniversary, I’m delighted that we’re able to properly mark this link, and the immense contribution that the Windrush Generation have made to our country for three quarters of a century.”

A little glimpse into Witney Town Council’s celebrations held in Witney across the Coronation weekend.

Join us for a weekend of commemorative events celebrating the historic occasion of the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. There is something for everyone, from the chance to watch the Coronation and the Coronation Concert on the Corn Exchange big screen, to A Big Lunch in the Park, and a children’s Make & Play event.

Further details about some of the events are below:

The Coronation Screening in the Corn Exchange on the morning of Saturday 6th May will begin at 10am to include the procession to Westminster Abbey. Beforehand our Town Crier will deliver the official Coronation Cry in the Market Square at 9:45.

The Children’s Make & Play event offers the chance to create your own wooden Charles and Camilla peg dolls, finger puppets, a cardboard crown, or a red, white and blue ribbon twirler. You can take part in some colouring and puzzle activities, test your skill at sticking the gem on the crown, or dress up for some photos with our props and throne!

The Big Lunch at the Leys is a family friendly picnic with entertainment. Windrush Radio will be compering and broadcasting from the event. There is fun, free tennis and refreshments from the Coffee Shed, and children’s fairground rides and food stalls from Hatwell’s funfair.

Morris dancing and both broadcast music and live performances, including an Open Mic opportunity for the brave will take place in our performance area.

Thames Valley Police will be offering Cycle Security marking and generally joining in with the fun.

If you fancy learning a new skill, Witney Vikings will challenge you to the likes of football darts, and the Morris dancers may be looking to involve audiences which sounds amazing – both of these must be worth a video to capture the moment!

There are prizes for the best fancy dress for children AND adults and for those without a costume, plenty of photo opportunities, with our throne, crown cape and life size Charles and Camilla! Another chance to capture the moment.

Bring a picnic or buy some food at the event. We will be keeping our fingers crossed for good weather.

On the evening of Sunday 7th May the Corn Exchange Big Screen will be broadcasting the Coronation Concert from 8pm.

Aside from these weekend events we also have groups and individuals making sustainable cloth bunting to turn the town red, white and blue, we have an amazing window display of Coronation memorabilia being installed and we have schools working on commemorative book projects, so there is lots going on around the town.

Huge thanks go out to all the community groups, schools and individuals contributing to making all these events happen. We are looking forward to seeing lots of social media posts of Coronation memories. 
#Coronation2023

Open the Document and follow links to the desired parish listing

Town and Parish  Notice of Poll 

District Notice of Poll 

Statement of Persons Nominated – District 4 May 2023

Statement of Persons Nominated – Parish and Towns  4 May 2023

Open the Document and follow links to the desired parish listing

Witney Town Council is working with the Rotary Club of Witney to rejuvenate the wild bank behind the chapel in Tower Hill Cemetery.

Steep banks that slope, as this one does, pose particular challenges. Routine maintenance such as mowing cannot be carried out with conventional mowers and watering is a problem due to run off. The trees that line the path above the bank shade the area and drop leaves onto the bank.

Carefully selected planting, suitable for the light and soil conditions will improve the appearance of this particular area and once established, create a more attractive and easily managed space. Wildflowers grow best in low quality soil, so it’s likely that the top layer of four inches or so will be removed to reach poorer soil and remove some of the grass roots to prevent new flowers from having to compete.

Thanks to around £600, donated by Rotary Club of Witney, the Town Council has been able to purchase wildflowers in different planting media to trial on three test areas.

One area will have seeds, another some seed matting and the final area will be planted with seed plugs. The intention is to complete the work for early spring planting and flowering in summer 2023. Wildflower plantings usually take a number of years to establish properly, but the hope is that ultimately the bank will be beautifully transformed by this restoration plan.

John Summers of the Rotary Club said,

“The Rotary Club of Witney is pleased to be able to provide funds so that this project to take place, in partnership with Witney Town Council, because of the Club’s focus on the enhancement of the community and the local environment. This project is centrally located in town where the site is in need of some improvement. The steep grassy bank is difficult to maintain and appropriate wildflower meadow planting is intended to provide year-round interest and summer colour.”

Work has already begun with five members of the Rotary Club assisting on site, transplanting existing spring bulbs and perennials from the trial area, so that they will not be lost when the ground is prepared for planting the wildflowers.

The welcome offer of help from The Witney Rotary club comes from a new area of involvement for them – Environment and Community- which focuses on “supporting families and working with local government to improve where we live.”

This is the first stage of the project. The Club says it looks forward to assisting in the next stages, and is pleased to be associated with this community and environment project. The Club President, Ron Spurs, explained, “This project is exactly the type of community action that our Club thrives on”.

Cllr Ruth Smith, Chair of the Climate, Biodiversity and Planning Committee, added,

“Wild flowers cheer everyone up and this project will build more insect food and habitats into the well-loved cemetery,  which has had several successful nature enhancements in recent years. Our officers and in-house maintenance team have more expertise and flexibility than ever to respond to residents’ requests for nature-friendly management of our green spaces.”

This exciting joint project fulfils the Town Council’s desire for community engagement and partnership working and also addresses aims stated in its recently adopted Open Spaces strategy to improve biodiversity and habitat management.

The Rotary club has invited the Witney Photo Group to document the project as it unfolds.

Volunteers from Rotary transplanting Primroses from the test areas

On Thursday 16th March Witney Town Council and the Witney Music Festival Festival signed a partnership agreement that will see the Town Council providing core sponsorship and free use of The Leys to facilitate the Musical Festival each year.

The Festival showcases headline artists but also supports local musicians and their Mission Statement and Vision focus on ‘Building community through music’. They seek to provide opportunities and to inspire young musicians and performers.

Eric Marshall is Chairman of the Witney Music Festival. He echoed the significance of the partnership,

Witney Town Council is pleased to be able to support the extension of an agreement to permit Witney parkrun to continue using West Witney sports ground for a further four years.

Witney Parkrun ticks a lot of boxes for our residents. It’s free, friendly, inclusive and provides a fun challenge that is suitable for runners of all ages and abilities. For many it is a chance to socialise and for others it has a positive impact on their physical health and mental wellbeing.

Cllr Vicky Gwatkin, Chair of the Council’s Parks and Recreation Committee said,

“The success of Parkrun in Witney is a credit to the volunteers who organise and manage it week in week out. Beyond the obvious physical benefits, it has proved its value to our community during the Covid lockdowns and continues to support mental wellbeing, social interaction and provide volunteer opportunities for everyone.
We are immensely proud that Witney parkrun is our parkrun, and so pleased we have been able to offer an extended license in the hope it will continue for many years to come.”