The map highlights 15 historic and cultural points of interest across eight railway stations in the county.

Developed by the Oxfordshire Community Rail Partnership (OxCRP) in collaboration with Black Ark Media, the map aims to inspire residents and visitors to explore lesser-known stories and communities connected to Oxfordshire.

Alayne McDonald, community rail development manager at OxCRP, said: “Our new Black History Map supports local people and visitors to use stations as gateways to discovery.

“By inviting people to explore the county’s rich and diverse stories by rail, the map supports greater cultural understanding while promoting active and sustainable travel.

“We are grateful to the local community groups, institutions, historical societies and individuals who have helped us to highlight underrepresented local histories linked to rail.”

The project was made possible through funding from Great Western Railway.

Derrick McLean, director of Black Ark Media, said: “This is about visibility and understanding.

“The stories on this map have always been part of Oxfordshire, but they have not always been easy to find.

“Linking them to stations invites people to travel with curiosity and see the county through a fuller lens.”

The map is available to view and download on the OxCRP website, alongside the organisation’s full collection of leisure trails.

The Theatre will host the new show from Aylmers Circus, ‘Making a Scene’, on Saturday, July 4.

It stars Nancy Trotter Landry, known for her work with Giffords Circus, and will feature Ciaran Innes, who will showcase his Rola Bola and juggling acts following his appearance on Britain’s Got Talent.

The show promises a high-energy circus adventure with acrobatics, theatrical storytelling, and audience participation.

Some of the acts include LED hula hooping, hand balancing, high-speed roller skating, and lollipop and pole performances.

Chipping Norton will be the show’s second stop on its tour, after starting in Stroud on June 26 and concluding in Bristol on July 5.

Aylmers Circus was founded in 2024 by Gloucestershire-born producer Harvey Aylmer, who began his circus journey at the age of 10 to raise money for charity.

Mr Aylmer trained under Nell Gifford at Giffords Circus and completed a degree in theatre production from Bath Spa University.

He has worked with prestigious companies, including Giffords Circus and Cirque du Soleil.

The show is expected to last 100 minutes, including an interval, and is suitable for all ages.

Tickets are available for purchase, with prices set at £21 for adults, £15 for under 16s, and £55 for a family ticket (two adults and two under 16s).

Tickets can be purchased at aylmerscircus.co.uk.

Edward Feild Primary School in Kidlington unveiled the forest-themed reading sanctuary on April 17 after a major fundraising campaign and a burst of community effort.

Jo Cotterill, an award-winning author and patron of the Oxfordshire Book Awards, officially opened the new space, which holds 2,500 books and replaces a 30-year-old library.

Ms Cotterill said: “This new library is so cheerful.

“A library was always my safe place; there is something truly special about being in one.

“The fact that you can borrow books for free and read them is simply amazing.

“In a library, you can go on adventures that you can’t go on in real life – you might not come out the same person who went in.”

During the event, she read from her first published book, Moondance, and donated a copy to the new library, along with her latest title.

Scott Lewis, headteacher at Edward Feild Primary School, said: “This isn’t just a room with books; it’s a sanctuary.

“I want to say a huge thank you to Jo Cotterill for inspiring us today, and to the Friends of Edward Feild.

“We owe so much to our volunteers, who helped us achieve the impossible by getting this all done in just 12 days.”

Assistant headteacher Chris Tupling said: “The woodland theme was a deliberate choice to bring the calming, imaginative benefits of forest school indoors.

“In a year where we are celebrating the joy of reading nationally, this library provides the perfect environment for our pupils to develop a lifelong love of literature.”