Oxford News
Wildlife disturbed after old trees felled on Bicester path
The path, which runs behind homes adjacent to Gavray Drive and between Mallards Way, is regularly used by dog walkers and is known locally for its wildlife.
Sandra Williams, who walks her dogs down the path daily, heard chainsaws and chippers from near her home, just off of the path, on Wednesday, May 27.
After the operation she noticed a sudden influx of distressed young birds take shelter in her garden.
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“I had loads of flustered juvenile birds landing on my fences and bushes,” she said, explaining that their garden, which includes feeders and nest boxes, appeared to become a refuge during the disturbance.
Among them was a young blue tit, which flew into a window and was temporarily stunned. The resident was able to safely move the bird to a nearby tree, where it later recovered and flew away.
She said: “Luckily I managed to scoop it up and after a short while, popped it into my Magnolia tree where it recovered itself and eventually flew off.”
She believes some of the trees removed were more than 30 years old, based on the size of the remaining stumps.
Photos shared show a stark contrast between one side of the pathway, which remains untouched, and the other, which has been described as “completely butchered”.
Concerns have also been raised about the loss of privacy for nearby homes and the potential long-term impact on local wildlife, including birds and squirrels.
She added: “You can hear the number of birds that live in this alleyway – their undeniable tweetering is proof.
“If the rest of this pathway is scheduled for such drastic coppicing, it will be a disaster for the local birds and squirrels that live there.”
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Someone who wants to fell trees on public land will need to apply for a felling licence from the Forestry commission. This is not the case on private land, such as in a garden, unless it is a protected tree under a preservation order.
While cutting trees in England during peak bird nesting season in the spring and summer months is not illegal, it becomes an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act if a wild bird is intentionally killed or injured or their nests and eggs are damaged or destroyed.
Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council and said its teams were not responsible for the work, with the latter redirecting their enquiries to Bicester Town Council.
A response from the town council is still awaited.
The vaccine group, at the University of Oxford, is targeting the Bundibugyo Ebolavirus, which is rapidly spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
The rare species of Ebola that is spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known as Bundibugyo, has no proven vaccine and kills 30 to 50 per cent of those infected.
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Bundibugyo has only caused two previous outbreaks, in Uganda in 2007 and then in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2012.
The Oxford Vaccine Group (OVG) is using the same technology that underpinned the Covid jab to develop a new vaccine for the specific strain of Ebola virus in the current outbreak.
Professor Teresa Lambe OBE, Calleva head of vaccine immunology at the Oxford Vaccine Group and Pandemic Sciences Institute, said: “We are hopeful that through a coordinated global effort, we will be able to curb this outbreak and stop this virus in its tracks.”
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The outbreak – declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) by the World Health Organisation and Africa CDC, respectively – has already caused more than 900 suspected cases and more than 220 suspected deaths.
Five patients have recovered from the virus, the head of the World Health Organisation said on Sunday during a visit to a city at the heart of an outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Britain will provide up to £20 million to contain the outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
The fire and rescue service said people in Witney should be aware of a controlled burn at the FLO Gas Witney site.
There is no cause for concern, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said in a public information notice to prevent people calling 999 out of concern.
A spokesman said: “Please be aware that FLO Gas Witney will be carrying out a controlled burn over the next 48 hours during daylight hours.
“Residents and visitors in the area may notice flames and smoke associated with this planned operation.
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“There is no cause for concern, and no action is required from the public.
“The controlled burn is being conducted safely and under controlled conditions by FLO Gas.
“Please help us by sharing this information with friends, family, and neighbours to avoid unnecessary concern and calls to the emergency services.
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
Two new padel tennis courts are being planned at Radley College near Abingdon under new proposals put to Vale of White Horse District Council.
Padel tennis is the fastest growing sport in the world right now, with figures from the Lawn Tennis Association showing more than 400,000 people were playing the sport in the UK last year.
Close to one million people in the UK play the sport now.
And with more than 760 pupils enrolled at the boarding school, the college is seeking to “enhance” its extracurricular offer with more recreational opportunities.
Radley College is set among 800 acres and the new courts would be made within the northern part of the campus within the athletic track.
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The site forms part of a wider complex of Radley College sports facilities, comprising a hockey pitch and athletics track, as well as the rowing tank, strength and conditioning building and tennis courts.
An agent for the college said on its behalf: “In principle, the development is considered to be appropriate given its location within an established educational and sporting campus.
“The provision of padel courts will enhance the college’s sporting and extracurricular offer which is an important consideration within the context of a full-time boarding community.
“As such, the proposals are considered to accord with national and local policy objectives in respect promoting good health, wellbeing and physical activity.”
As well as the courts, the college would also equip the courts with external enclosures, lighting, alterations to the astro pitch fence and enhancements to the natural habitat around.
Governing body England Athletics warned that access to the courts should be “carefully managed” with a risk assessment.
It said staff should be aware of the potential for wear and tear to the track caused by increased footfall when accessing the courts.
Radley College is a boarding school for pupils aged 13 to 18, and earlier this month it received international acclaim when it was included in the Spear’s Schools Index 2026, which named the 100 best private schools in the world.
At the beginning of May last year Radley College and Prep Schools Trust, which includes Cothill House and Chandlings Prep School, announced they were merging in one of the most significant mergers in the charitable independent schools sector.
Chandlings and Cothill, which educate boys and girls from two to 13, are located close to Radley College – one of three remaining full boarding schools for boys aged 13-18.
A decision on the padel courts will be made by Vale of White Horse District Council at a later date.
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Wildlife disturbed after old trees felled on Bicester path
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