February 2026 News
Recent Activities
A River Sings: How nature recovery and flood management can work side by side
There was a fantastic turnout for our first event of the year, at Berrick and Roke Parish Hall - a special evening screening of “A River Sings”. This short, uplifting award-winning film is about the Evenlode Catchment Partnership (ECP) in Oxfordshire that documents successful nature-based solutions to flood management.
The film shares the inspiring story of landowners, volunteers, partners and local communities working together through the ECP to restore rivers, reduce flood risk, improve water quality and support wildlife.
It starts by showing devastating flooding across the countryside and villages within the catchment exacerbated in recent times by climate change putting homes, crops and wildlife habitat at risk. The landlord of the King’s Head, Bledlington, recounts how the pub had been flooded 12 times since 2001 with 20 local jobs at risk and flood insurance no longer available to him. Other residents share stories of the emotional and financial toll of flooding. Sewage overflows were also a problem.
The project, hosted by Wild Oxfordshire, began in 2014 using nature-based flood management solutions to slow peak water flows alongside regenerative farming methods aimed at reducing chemical run-off.
Topsoil was stripped from the riverbed exposing the gravel beneath, allowing the river to take its natural course by connecting it to the floodplain, thereby creating wetlands. Space was set aside for field corner bunds and ponds to capture excess water during peak flows. Wet woodland was created to provide carbon storage and a variety of habitats. Holding water in the upper catchment in this way dissipates the energy of the floodwater and makes floods less destructive, and so protects settlements in the lower catchment including Oxford.
Initially the project had its detractors, but results were visible within a short time and support soon increased. Birds populated the new habitat immediately, with 50 species now having been recorded including Peregrin Falcon, Merlin, Redshank, Sand Martins, Green Sandpipers (possibly 1% of the UK population) and hundreds of Swallows. Using the least productive land means it is hardly affected yet there are enormous financial and biodiversity benefits. And when the heaviest rainfall in years occurred recently, there was no flooding.
After the screening, we were joined by special guests for an interesting informal panel discussion.
If you missed the evening, you can view the film at the Evenlode Catchment Partnership website here. Or visit: https://evenlodecatchment.org.uk/ to watch a second inspiring film “Beneath the Surface”, about what the Evenlode River is facing and how the community is working together to help. The website is packed with interesting information about their activities.
Many thanks to our panelists:
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Ann Berkeley (Project Manager, Evenlode Catchment Partnership (Wild Oxfordshire Wild Oxfordshire & Evenlode Catchment Partnership)
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Roselle Chapman (Nature Recovery Officer, South Oxfordshire & Vale of White Horse District Councils)
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Nicola Schafer (Conservation filmmaker and Chair, Watlington Climate Action Group).
Finally, thank you to Berrick & Roke for hosting the evening!
2026 Programme - Next Events
24th February 7.30 pm: Talk by Gavin McLaughlan – Our Otters – Millstream Centre Benson, OX10 6RP
22nd March 7pm: Screening of Six inches of Soil – Community Hall, China Piece,Hopefield Grange, Benson OX10 6FY
Benson Eco Church in collaboration with BANG will be screening Six Inches of Soil a 2024 documentary that chronicles the first year of three new British farmers as they transition to regenerative agriculture. The film highlights their efforts to move away from the industrial food system to heal the soil, improve public health, increase biodiversity, and strengthen local communities. The title "Six Inches of Soil" refers to the crucial topsoil layer that supports life and is essential for food production.
We have an exciting, nature-filled year planned for 2026 – below is a taster of what else is coming up.
Look out for more details on each event on Facebook and via the Benson Area Nature Group email. Meanwhile please save the dates.
Upcoming Volunteering Opportunities
Sunday 15th February, 10.30am - Sedge Removal – Cuckoo Pen, Benson
Pendulous sedge is a striking evergreen perennial, but it’s also a brutal spreader. It has taken over large areas of the boggy wetland habitat at Cuckoo Pen in Benson, crowding out native plants.
Winter is the ideal time to dig it out, giving other wetland species the chance to recover and thrive. We’re looking for volunteers to help remove a significant amount before it becomes even more established. It’s physical work, but very satisfying—and a great outdoor workout!
You’ll need: gloves, sturdy shoes or wellies, a spade, if you have one.
Citizen Science: Mud Spotting & Nutrient Testing
If you’d prefer something less physical but just as valuable, we’re also looking for volunteers to support our citizen science activities.
3rd March, 10am – 12pm; Ewelme Cress Beds Centre - Water Quality Monitoring (part of the Chilterns Chalk Stream Project nutrient testing day)
We’re seeking volunteers to measure water quality along sections of Benson/Ewelme Brook. We already have a good number of volunteers collecting water samples, but we need more help—especially from people in Benson, so we can cover the entire length of the brook.
Mud Spotting Surveys – Benson Brook
Join Ewelme volunteers to help identify locations along Benson Brook where excess water enters from roads, paths, or gardens after heavy rainfall. These “mud spots” are key to understanding pollution pathways into the brook.
Interested?
If any of these volunteering activities appeal to you, please get in touch by emailing us at Bensonareanature@yahoo.com. We’d love to have you involved!
1st February 2026
