Matthews Cotswold Flour, based in the Cotswolds, is encouraging the wider use of regenerative agriculture and working towards making all its flour from grain grown using these methods by 2030.

Regenerative farming focuses on improving soil health, increasing biodiversity and capturing carbon.

Bertie Matthews, managing director and the eighth generation of the family to run the business, said: “We have long advocated for regenerative farming practices, which prioritise soil health, biodiversity and carbon capture.

“Through our Cotswold Grain Partnership, we work closely with local farmers to ensure they adopt practices that protect the environment.

“We are working alongside them to move all our grains to a regenerative farming model as soon as possible.

“These are long term partnerships that will benefit the soil, the farmers and our customers for generations to come.”

The 200-year-old company currently offers nine flours milled from regeneratively farmed grain.

One of the growers involved in the Cotswold Grain Partnership, Ed Horton, supplies durum wheat, spelt, and milling wheat.

Mr Horton said: “Our regen journey started about ten years ago, when I returned to the family farm.

“Our partnership with Matthews Cotswold Flour has enabled us to do this and, as well as the hugely rewarding environmental progress that we have made on the farm, we have reduced the risk exposure related to high inputs such as fertilisers.”

Matthews Cotswold Flour uses a self-developed audit system and set of standards to help farms improve environmental performance.

The caravan was found in a layby off Banbury Road, north of Kidlington, near Sturdy’s Castle.

The layby can often be seen with caravans parked up, but this one seems to have been abandoned.

Thames Valley Police is now appealing to try and find its rightful owner.

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Commenting on Sunday afternoon, a TVP West Oxfordshire spokesperson said: “An abandoned caravan has been recovered.

“PC Speke and PCSO Duffield have found an abandoned caravan in the lay-by at Sturdy’s Castle, A4260.

“If you believe you are the owner of this caravan please contact 101 quoting the reference INC-20260412-0623 providing evidence of ownership.

“Best wishes, Woodstock Neighbourhood Team.”

It comes after this newspaper was told there was reportedly a large police presence near the pub on Saturday afternoon.

However, Thames Valley Police has not provided details of any incident in response to our enquiries.

Southern Down Care Home, based in Chipping Norton, took home the top prize in the annual Barchester Easter Cake competition for the North West and Midlands Division.

The annual contest invites care homes and hospitals across the UK to design and bake creative Easter cakes.

Subra Krishnan, general manager at Southern Down Care Home, said: “Our residents had such a brilliant time taking part in this competition, it has been such fun.

“Everyone here loves to bake and we all love cake so we were all very excited to take part.

“It has been a real collaborative process – refining the recipe and trying different versions of the design.

“We’ve all loved eating the previous versions until we came up with the perfect winning design.

“It really has been no hardship.”

The prize-winning Easter cake (Image: Barchester)

The winning cake, made by residents in the home’s baking club, was decorated with chocolate treats and designed as a group effort.

Resident Shirley said: “I’ve been baking my whole life, I find it so satisfying when a cake turns out well and everyone enjoys it.

“Easter cakes have always been a favourite thing of mine to make so when I heard about the competition, I couldn’t wait to get stuck in.

“I am so proud that we have won, it has made my Easter.”

Southern Down Care Home is part of Barchester Healthcare.