Crime & Safety
SSEN and RSPB to fund biodiversity at Oxfordshire reserve
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is partnering with the RSPB to fund biodiversity improvements at Otmoor Nature Reserve in Oxfordshire, as part of its ongoing substation works in the county.
Under its Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) obligations, SSEN has invested in credits to support environmental restoration and offset the ecological impact of its infrastructure upgrades.
Paul Goodchild, SSEN’s senior project manager for the Cowley project, said: “Our investment in Biodiversity Net Gain at Otmoor reflects our commitment to ensuring that essential infrastructure upgrades also contribute to positive, lasting benefits for local ecosystems.
“Working with the RSPB on such a significant reserve is a fantastic opportunity to support habitats that are vital for wildlife, while delivering the upgrades Oxfordshire needs for a low‑carbon future.”
The funding will go toward transforming three former arable fields at the Otmoor site.
Two of the fields will be converted into a wetland mosaic – a habitat known for its high species diversity and ecological value.
The third field will be seeded with native plants to create a transitional habitat, encouraging greater biodiversity across the reserve.
The RSPB hopes the wetland restoration will particularly benefit sensitive and declining bird species.
David Wilding, RSPB’s Otmoor reserve manager, said: “Otmoor is already one of central England’s most important wetland reserves, but projects like this remind us what can be achieved when we have mechanisms and policy in place that bring investment into nature.
“Transforming these fields into wetland mosaic is genuinely significant as this habitat type supports some of our most pressure-sensitive species, including Curlew, Lapwing, Redshank and Snipe, all of which have seen serious national declines.”
The work at Otmoor forms part of SSEN’s wider £200 million upgrade to Oxfordshire’s electricity network.
The upgrade aims to increase capacity and improve long-term resilience as the region transitions to a low-carbon future.
Since August 2025, SSEN has been installing new high-voltage underground cables along Grenoble Road as part of the project.
Work at Cowley substation, where state-of-the-art equipment is being installed, will continue into early 2027.
The project is being delivered in partnership with contractor OCU Group.
SSEN Distribution, part of FTSE-100 energy company SSE, serves four million customers across central southern England and the north of Scotland.
The company is focused on supporting the decarbonisation of the electricity system and connecting new low-carbon technologies to the grid.
At the same time, it aims to deliver environmental improvement alongside essential infrastructure projects.
Mr Goodchild said the Otmoor investment demonstrates how infrastructure development can be aligned with environmental stewardship.
Pupils from Aureus School, aged 14 and 15, visited the Courtyard by Marriott Oxford South as part of their hospitality and catering studies, exploring the inner workings of hotel operations.
The visit included a behind-the-scenes look at reception, reservations, and other key departments.
Santiago Montiero, general manager at the Courtyard by Marriott Oxford South, said: “Supporting young people and connecting with our local community is really important to us, so this was a fantastic project to be involved in.
“Hospitality is a people-focused industry, and nothing compares to experiences which help bring it to life for students in a meaningful way.”
One of the highlights of the day was a culinary session led by the hotel’s head chef.
Each group prepared their own lunch, making pizzas, wraps, fresh salads, and chocolate brownies.
They also took part in a Q&A session about careers in hospitality and received certificates recognising their engagement and enthusiasm.
The school said that several students had expressed an interest in exploring hospitality as a career following the visit.
Aureus School pupils will return to the hotel in November to take part in the hotel’s annual tree lighting event.
This visit will further strengthen ties between the hotel and the local community.
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils are reviewing their off-street parking orders and considering a switch to a ticketless scheme at all managed sites.
This would remove the need to display a physical ticket in vehicles and modernise the overall parking experience.
Under the proposed changes, drivers would enter their full vehicle registration number at a machine to obtain a free hour of parking or to pay for longer stays.
Payment could be made by coin, contactless card, Google Pay, or Apple Pay.
The existing PayByPhone option, which does not require using a machine, would remain available.
Some of the proposals include changing the Southern Road car park in Thame from short‑stay to all‑day parking, updating the charging rules at two Wallingford car parks (Castle Street and St Georges Road) so they match the other council car parks in the town, and changing the layout of parking spaces at Cattlemarket car park in Thame to reflect a new use of the nearby commercial building.
The public consultation is open until 11.59pm on Friday, May 8, and further information can be found on the council’s website.
It’s one of 12 archive pictures we’ve found of brothers and sisters looking after each other over the years, from heroic acts to touching moments.
This gallery includes siblings dressing up together, on days out and enjoying local playgroups.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire ‘hidden trap’ pothole leads to compensation payout
One adorable image shows a brother and sister duo examining a beautiful snakeshead fritillary flower.
Another shows a four-year-old boy offering a taste of his candy floss to his kid sister at St Giles Fair.
Take a look back through this Oxford Mail archive picture gallery to find pictures of brother-sister duos in Oxfordshire over the years.
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