Wild Oxfordshire – success for the Evenlode Catchment
Hilary Phillips, from Wild Oxfordshire, has been successful in securing funding for two local projects totalling over £100,000 for river restoration and community projects in the Evenlode catchment.
All of the work involves partner organisations; over half of this funding has been raised in partnership with the Wychwood Project and will be used to support their work in the catchment.
The funding comes from a variety of sources, including the Environment Agency, Thames Water, Cotswolds Rivers Trust and Cotswolds Fly Fishers. The funds will enable restoration work to be carried out on the River Glyme, between Stratford Bridge and Woodstock Water Meadows; and for advice and practical work with communities upstream and downstream of the river restoration site Wild Oxfordshire hosts and is a member of the Evenlode Catchment Partnership which brings together local people, landowners, environmental organisations, councils and statutory bodies to improve the water quality and habitats for wildlife and communities in the Evenlode catchment.
The River Evenlode has its headwaters in the Vale of Moreton and follows a sinuous course across the Cotswolds to Cassington, where it joins the River Thames. The Evenlode has two main tributaries – the Rivers Glyme and Dorn– as well as a number of smaller waterbodies. The catchment is predominantly rural in nature with many historic market towns such as Chipping Norton, Moreton-in-Marsh and Woodstock; it also covers most of the area of the ancient hunting forest of Wychwood, now home to the Wychwood Project.
Many of the rivers in the Evenlode catchment have been degraded through a combination of historical channel modification for land drainage and pollution (sediment and nutrients), from waste water and rural areas. This has contributed to reduced water quality, biodiversity and fisheries interest, as well as a failure to meet the Water Framework Directive targets of “Good Ecological Status”. This is a legal obligation for the UK government and is vital to secure a healthy future for our rivers and the communities they support.
Notes to editors
Wild Oxfordshire was established in 1999. Our aim is to conserve and enhance Oxfordshire’s rich and varied environment and wildlife. We do this through co-ordination and partnership. We run education events such as Oxfordshire Goes Wild, host the county’s Nature Partnership, run training course for Local Environment Groups, provide up to date environmental information through our website and the free Environmental E bulletin, co-ordinate Oxfordshire’s Biodiversity Strategy, the Evenlode Catchment Partnership and much more.
For more information: or email
1