News
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Oxfordshire Libraries offer free food caddy bags to cut Christmas waste
Oxfordshire libraries are giving away free food waste caddy liners this December to help residents manage extra Christmas waste. The council hopes the scheme will encourage more recycling, cut costs and support environmental goals across the county.
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Bampton Classical Opera reveals winners of 2025 Young Singers’ Competition
Soprano Seohyun Go has won Bampton Classical Opera’s 2025 Young Singers’ Competition, with Emma Roberts and Erin Rossington sharing Second Prize and Daniel Peter Silcock securing the Accompanists’ Prize after an exceptional final at Wolfson College, Oxford.
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Staff at Oxford United’s official charity benefit from workplace wellbeing workshop
Oxford United in the Community staff received a tailored wellbeing workshop from psychotherapist Rebecca Lisi, equipping them with practical tools to manage stress and support the charity’s Match Fit campaign. The training forms part of a growing partnership under the Friends of the Community scheme.
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Local Businesses unite to celebrate World Kindness Day with gifts for new parents
Local businesses celebrated World Kindness Day by donating artisan gift bags to new parents at Chipping Norton’s maternity unit. Led by Tall Trees Care Home, the gesture brought joy, comfort, and a sense of community to families welcoming newborns.
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Nearly 70,000 drainage gullies cleaned as Oxfordshire accelerates countywide programme
Oxfordshire County Council has already cleaned nearly 70,000 gullies under its new drainage improvement programme. Doubling crew numbers and using advanced equipment, the county aims to clear all 145,000 gullies by March 2026 to improve flood resilience and road safety.
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Waterperry Opera Festival unveils La Bohème and The Elixir of Love for 2026
Waterperry Opera Festival will headline La Bohème and The Elixir of Love at its 2026 festival. Performed in English and led by acclaimed creative teams, the productions continue the festival’s mission to deliver imaginative, accessible opera in Waterperry’s iconic gardens.
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West Oxfordshire estate agent warns new ‘mansion tax’ could become an administrative nightmare
He warns that the proposed mansion tax will hit local people who aren’t multi-millionaires, but are often long-term owners whose home value has crept up over the decades
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Oxfordshire-based Planet IT tops UK workplace rankings with four major award wins
The firm was named the No.1 Place to Work in the UK, alongside regional and sector-leading accolades, with founders Sean Smith and Gavin Jones recognised as Top Leaders.
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Mental health charity One-Eighty wins Brand the Bus 2025 competition
One-Eighty has won the 2025 Brand the Bus competition, securing a year-long bus wrap and £100K advertising package. The charity supports young people with mental health and SEND challenges, delivering over 2,000 interventions annually across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
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University of Oxford OpenSAFELY team awarded Queen Elizabeth prize
Oxford’s OpenSAFELY platform has been awarded a Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education, celebrating its pioneering approach to NHS data access and privacy-preserving research with global impact.
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Local bat numbers double as Graven Hill’s conservation plan thrives in Bicester
Graven Hill’s bat population has nearly doubled in a year thanks to a decade-long conservation strategy, new habitats, and expert monitoring. Waterman’s latest surveys show rising roost numbers and growing species diversity across the Bicester development.
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Allen Associates boss Kate Allen honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award at REC Awards 2025
The ceremony, held at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel, celebrated recruitment professionals from across the UK, recognising excellence, resilience and industry-wide contributions.
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Heartbreak as £2,200 of meat stolen in overnight break-in at Oxford City Farm
Three storage areas – including sheds and containers – were forcibly entered, and roughly 120kg of pork, from two pigs carefully reared over the summer, was taken.
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Michael Bublé joins star-studded lineup for debut Blenheim Palace Festival 2026
Michael Bublé has been confirmed as the latest headliner for the inaugural Blenheim Palace Festival in 2026. He joins a high-profile lineup including Katy Perry, Neil Young, Teddy Swims and Pete Tong Ibiza Classics for a spectacular series of open-air concerts at the Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Blenheim Estate Homes unveil most energy-efficient development yet at Hill Rise
Blenheim Estate Homes has announced the launch Hill Rise, a new low-carbon community in Woodstock featuring up to 180 energy-efficient homes with solar power, heat pumps and EV charging. Designed around nature, the development includes green spaces, allotments and extensive walking routes.
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Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts to headline Blenheim Palace Festival 2026
Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts will headline Blenheim Palace Festival 2026, joined by Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton. They join a high-profile lineup including Katy Perry, Teddy Swims, and Pete Tong for the festival’s debut year.