About the reserve

Medieval meadows

This small nature reserve is an echo of a bygone era, a time when swathes of wild flowers and butterflies were found in profusion in England's meadows and pastures. Between 1930 and 1984 an estimated 97% of these lowland grasslands went under the plough, or were drained.

Ox hay and cherry wood

Oxey (once Oxhay) is one of several surviving ancient 'lot' meadows near the city of Oxford which date to medieval times. Each year, villagers were alloted a strip of land to till by entering a lottery using cherry wood balls - each ball still carries the name of a 13th- or 14th-century villager.

Pageant of colour

In spring and summer, visitors are treated to a changing pageant of wild flowers, some as high as the swaying grasses. In early summer, the crimson heads of great burnet tower over smaller flowers such as common bird's-foot-trefoil, fairy flax and yellow rattle. In turn, the wild flowers attract butterflies including orange-tip, meadow brown and ringlet. Look out for the day-flying chimney sweeper moth with its distinctive black wings. Grasshoppers, spiders and beetles are also found in abundance.

Bird life

Skylarks sometimes hover high overhead. Waders such as snipe and redshank may be seen in the wetter winter months.