News
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Wildlife protections barely affect UK planning decisions according to The Wildlife Trusts
The Wildlife Trusts has published new research claiming that protected species are a factor in just 3% of planning appeal decisions, contradicting the UK Government’s claims that environmental regulations obstruct development.
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Stepnell strengthens higher education portfolio with major university projects
Complete construction partner Stepnell continues to solidify its role as a higher education construction specialist in Oxfordshire. Currently delivering a £3.3 million live refurbishment at the University of Oxford’s Henry Wellcome Building, Stepnell is enhancing molecular physiology and imaging laboratories.
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Henley Festival 2025 welcomes Magic Radio for Saturday night celebration
Henley Festival 2025, presented by Westcoast, welcomes Magic Radio for an electrifying addition to its renowned riverside celebration. Featuring a special Saturday night takeover of the Festival Club ‘Pure Heaven’, the event includes DJ sets by Mel Giedroyc and Harriet Scott.
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Taylor Wimpey supports Oxfordshire Young Farmers County Show in Blewbury
Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties sponsored the Oxfordshire Young Farmers County Show with a £500 donation. The show celebrated Oxfordshire’s agricultural heritage with livestock displays, competitions, and local products, attracting nearly 5,000 attendees.
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SHARE Oxford launches DIY workshops for The Great Big Green Week
SHARE Oxford is launching a series of hands-on workshops during Great Big Green Week (07–14 June), teaching people how to fix household items and learn new skills like bike repair, woodwork, and basket weaving.
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Found Festival partners with Music For All to champion music accessibility
Found Festival, the UK’s newest boutique festival of music, wellness, and cultural discovery, has announced its charity partnership with Music For All, a leading organisation dedicated to ensuring equal access to music-making across the UK.
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Wychwood School hosts international rugby stars to inspire the next generation
Women’s Rugby World Cup finalist Shaunagh Brown and England Rugby Sevens player Abbie Brown visited Oxford this week to inspire the next generation of players at a charity school tournament organised by Wychwood School.
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Persimmon Homes Wessex offers affordable flats at Didcot Valley Park
Persimmon Homes Wessex has launched new two-bed flats for sale at the Valley Park housing development in west Didcot, starting from £239,995. Buyers can benefit from the Gen H scheme, offering a 15% interest-free equity loan with just a 5% deposit.
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Giffords Circus marks 25 years with Laguna Bay show at Blenheim Palace
Giffords Circus, the UK’s most glamorous circus, celebrates its 25th anniversary with a dazzling new show, Laguna Bay, touring the Cotswolds and south of England, including Blenheim Palace from 22 May. Set in 1950s America, the handcrafted performance features acrobats, magicians, aerial artists, and the beloved Tweedy the Clown.
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Ferry Leisure Centre opens new indoor cycling studio and upgrades squash courts
Ferry Leisure Centre has unveiled a series of upgrades, including a new indoor cycling studio and refurbished squash courts. The dedicated cycling space, converted from a former squash court, offers both instructor-led and virtual classes for all fitness levels.
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Dorchester Living leads community cleaning to keep Heyford Park green and clean
Over 25 Dorchester Living team members recently took part in a community litter pick across Heyford Park, helping to clean green spaces, pathways, and shared area, reflecting the developer’s commitment to sustainability, wellbeing, and community stewardship.
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Oxfordshire launches annual programme to clean and empty all highway drainage gullies
Oxfordshire County Council has launched a £2.6m programme to clean and empty every highway drainage gully across the county by March 2026, and annually thereafter, to improve drainage, reduce potholes, and enhance road safety.
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BBOWT launches 2025 Nature Photography Competition across three counties
The BBOWT has launched its 2025 Nature Photography Competition, inviting photographers of all ages to capture local wildlife. Entries are open until 31 August across various categories, including birds, insects, flowers, and mobile photography.
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Oxford’s The Store wins national Gin Award, sets new standard in luxury spirits
Oxford’s boutique hotel, The Store, has won “Best in Country” at the World Gin Awards for its house London Dry Gin, crafted with Hawkridge Distillers. The gin, now shortlisted for the world’s best, reflects the hotel’s commitment to authenticity and quality.
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Oxford-based Windle Trust International shortlisted for prestigious charity awards
The charity was shortlisted for the 2025 Charity Awards in the International Aid and Development category for its Accelerated Secondary Education Programme in South Sudan, which provides unqualified primary teachers with a two-year secondary education to improve both teaching quality and access to education.
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New showroom brings 200 years of joinery expertise to Blenheim Palace Sawmills
Allan Brothers, the UK’s oldest timber window and door manufacturer, is opening a new showroom at Blenheim Palace Sawmills near Combe. Set in a renovated 19th-century barn, the showroom will showcase premium timber and Alu Clad products.