Interested in Butterflies?
A two-part introduction to butterfly identification and monitoring, led by Richard Soulsby, who has over 20 years' experience moniotoring butterflies.
Please sign up at BensonAreaNature@yahoo.com
Indoor Session
Tue 30 Jun, 7:30
Millstream Centre
Richard will show how to identify common species and how to record sightings.
Field Session
Sun 5 Jul
Backup: 11/12 July
Warwick Spinney
Date depends on suitable weather.
📅 Programme 2026
Sun 19 Jul - Wildlife Open Gardens
Watlington, 1-5pm
Watlington residents are opening their garden gates to show their nature-friendly gardens. Please car share if you can. Watlington Wildlife Open Gardens
Thu 13 Aug – Social with the committee
At the Home Sweet Home in Roke at 7:30
Social get together with the committee to share ideas and feedback on the year so far.
Tue 1 Sep – Otters
7:30pm, at Warborough Greet Hall
A talk from Gavin McGlaughlin, following the success of his talk in Benson in February.
September - Riverfly Training
Ewelme Cress Beds
Training on kick sampling and riverfly identification. Riverflies are a good indicator of the health of watercourses.
Sep and Oct - Scything
Scythe and rake Millbrook Mead and Warwick Spinney
Tue 13 Oct - Talk on Otmoor RSPB Reserve
Details to be confirmed
Talk from Gordon Hurst, keen birder and volunteer at Otmoor. He will cover Otmoor’s background and give a photographic “walk” around the reserve, focusing mainly on birds and where and when to find them.
Dec - AGM and social
Past Events 2026
Thu 29 Jan "A River Sings" film
A film on the Evenlode catchment and the issues of surface water flood and wetland management.
Tue 24 Feb - Otter talk
Otter talk from Gavin McLauchlan in Benson.
Sat 7 Mar - Warborough Freshers Fair
The Freshers Fair hosts a stall introducing BANG.
Sun 22 Mar - "Six Inches of Soil" Film
A film on regenerative farming from three young famers, followed by a panel discussion.
Fri 23 Apr - Night-time Safari - postponed.
Sat 2 May - Dawn Chorus Walk
Our dawn chorus walk in Ewelme, with breakfast at the Cress Beds centre.
Sat 9 May - Family Nature Event
This included kick sampling in the stream, owl pellet dissection, identifying moths and so on.
Sat 16 May - Benson Community Celebration
As part of the nation-wide "Million Acts of Hope", BANG and other local groups show-cased their activities.
Sat 13 Jun - Great Big Green Week
An ECO Fair, with family activities and nature surveys, displays on sustainable living and local food producers.
Sat 13 Jun - Tour Broad Arboretum
A walk and talk around Broad Arboretum at the Earth Trust with John Brannan.
Mon 15 Jun – People’s Emergency Briefing
A 45 minute film on climate and biodiversity, showing the impact that science is predicting on our economy, health, food security, national security and so on. Then discussion of the actions we can take.
Sat 20 Jun - Moths and Farm Walk
Moth discovery and tour at Hale Farm with the farmer Rupert Belcher to see regenerative farming.
Tue 30 Jun - Butterfly Introduction
Butterfly ID training with Richard Soulsby.
Sun 5 Jul - Butterfly Field Session
With Richard and Tom Stevenson at Warwick Spinney.
⏰Regular Activities
Ewelme Watercress Beds Conservation work
1st Sat and 3rd Weds each month
9:30-12:30
Mid-week Conservation
In Benson or Ewelme, together with the Green Gym
2nd Tuesday each month
10:00-1:00
Sunday Conservation
Somewhere in our villages
1st Sunday each month
10:00-12:00
Path mowing
Warwick Spinney, Millbrook Mead
May to October
Interested in joining in?
Contact us at:
📊 Citizen Science
Water quality monitoring
Water vole surveys
Riverfly monitoring
Butterfly surveys
Bird surveys along a set of 11 routes around our parishes
Mud spotting - Identifying locations along Benson Brook where excess water enters from roads, paths, or gardens after heavy rainfall.
Want to know more?
Contact us at: