Oxford News
Cotswold mill champions farming that boosts biodiversity
Matthews Cotswold Flour is backing the first-ever British Regenerative Farming Week, which runs from September 12–19 and is designed to champion agricultural practices that protect natural landscapes and support long-term food security.
The company, one of the UK’s oldest family-run flour mills, currently offers 13 regenerative flours and aims to source 100 per cent regeneratively grown grain by 2030.
Bertie Matthews, managing director and eighth-generation member of the Matthews family, said: “British Regenerative Farming Week is an important opportunity to recognise the work farmers are doing to build healthier, more resilient farming systems while continuing to produce high-quality food.
“At Matthews, we work directly with British farmers to measure progress across soil health, carbon, biodiversity, water, inputs, and food security.
“These long-term partnerships support farmers, strengthen our future grain supply, and provide bakers with traceable, consistently high-quality flour.”
The company’s Cotswold Grain Partnership is a key part of its regenerative strategy, working closely with farmers to promote biodiversity, improve soil health, and develop hyper-local food networks that reduce food miles.
Examples include its collaboration with Lockerley Estate and Preston Farms in Hampshire, where wheat grown regeneratively is milled and used locally, including at 108 The Bakery in Romsey.
OXFORD Mail Camera Club members have been taking photos of their dogs
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The collision happened on the southbound carriageway between Junction 6 for Lewknor and Junction 5 for Watlington in the late morning on Saturday, August 29.
The emergency services attended the scene and closed the road,
National Highways said lanes two and three of the three-lane motorway were shut as a result while crews dealt with the incident, leading to delays of around 40 minutes.
Congestion was worsened by separate lane closures between Junctions 4 and 5 in both directions following damage to the central reservation from an earlier incident.
Traffic built up on approaches to the crash, with nearby areas including Stokenchurch and Lewknor also affected.
Images from traffic cameras showed long queues of vehicles and emergency workers at the scene throughout the afternoon.
AA Travel also reported that one lane was closed on the northbound carriageway between Handy Cross and Stokenchurch due to emergency repairs.
National Highways later confirmed that all southbound lanes between Junctions 6 and 5 had reopened and that the lane closures linked to the earlier incident were also being removed.
Despite the reopening, delays of around 40 minutes remained on the approach as traffic slowly returned to normal.
The closure affects the route between the A420 and Coxwell Road near Great Coxwell to allow for carriageway widening and the construction of a new signal-controlled junction.
The closure, in effect 24 hours a day, will begin on September 7, 2026, and is expected to remain in place until April 16, 2027.
An alternative route will be signposted via the A420, London Street, Coxwell Street, and Coxwell Road.
The order, issued by Oxfordshire County Council under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, will remain in force for up to 18 months if necessary.
Exemptions are included for emergency vehicles, and signage will be in place to advise drivers of the closure.
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