This event is open to student and early-career members only. Non-members and non-ECRs can join the Field Visit on 8 April only - details here
Please note registration for this event has now closed
Freshwater habitats provide a wealth of ecosystem services, from biodiversity to flood management, but many of these habitats are in poor condition. In 2024 the Office for Environmental Protection reported concerns that the Government target for 77 % of water bodies in England to reach ‘good’ ecological status by 2027 is unlikely to be achieved. The successful restoration of freshwater habitats relies on the participation of range of stakeholders.
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire are home to a number of exciting freshwater restoration projects, including river channels, floodplain meadows and fens, with a variety of projects working with everyone, from land owners and managers, to volunteers and NGOs, to achieve success. As such, Oxford/Buckinghamshire will be the location of our upcoming events on freshwater habitat restoration.
We have two options for our next event:
A two-day early career workshop. Contact students@iale.uk for questions.
A half day trip only to the River Dorn catchment, Bleneim Estate. [Open to non-ECR and non-members - details here]
Please note the registration deadline of 23:59 on the 31st March for both options.
Our early career events are designed to bring together students, early career researchers and early career practitioners to (1) build personal networks and community, (2) develop skills for your research/work, (3) build expertise in landscape ecology.
7th April: Early Career Workshop day one - monitoring freshwater habitats and financing restoration
Location: Regal Community Centre, Oxfordshire
Open to: students, early career researchers/practitioners within 5 years of their last degree
We will begin with talks in the morning from speakers from local catchment partnerships.
> Speaker 1: Claire Robertson – Thames21: Will discuss the Oxford Rivers Project and the coordination of citizen science schemes across the Cherwell, Ray and Ock river catchments. Claire will also compare work in these rural environments to other projects in urban environments.
> Speaker 2: Eoghan Concannon – Evenlode Catchment Partnership, Wild Oxfordshire: Will discuss habitat restoration work in the Evenlode Catchment Partnership, focusing on stakeholder working, financing and monitoring. Eoghan will also compare to experiences in the Corrib catchment, Ireland.
Following the talks, ECR’s will have the opportunity to engage with an ongoing systematic review on monitoring habitat restoration, led by our Early Career Working Group. First there will be a presentation on systematic review methodologies, before a group exercise to extract and visualize data from the literature on river restoration. On the second day participants will be invited to present their work in a short, 5-10 minute group talk to other workshop participants.
In the afternoon we will visit the Ludgershall Habitat Bank, part of the Berks, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust’s (BBOWT) Upper River Ray Living Landscape. On a tour with Debbie Lewis, Head of Ecology at BBOWT, we will learn how BBOWT are restoring floodplain meadows and grasslands in the Upper Ray Meadows nature reserve, with the support of Biodiversity Net Gain. The location hosts a variety of rare plants and birds, including Lapwings and Curlews, and the tour will be an opportunity to hear how the success of interventions are measured, and how BBOWT monitor biodiversity across the site.
8th April: River Dorn Natural Flood Management Scheme Visit
Location: Blenheim Palace Estate, Oxford
The “Stage Zero” scheme on Blenheim Palace estate seeks to restore natural processes, returning a stretch of the River Dorn and its floodplain towards a state it would have been in prior to human modification. The scheme has been developed by Blenheim alongside the Environment Agency and the Evenlode Catchment Partnership. The scheme, which is being overseen by project management consultants Atkins, involves using a series of natural barriers to control the flow of water in the River Dorn.
Please note that access to the field site is across a relatively steep field so it may not be suitable for all. Ground conditions in the floodplain area could be muddy / wet if there has been recent rain. If you have concerns about access/mobility, please email publicity@iale.uk
Provisional agenda
7th April 2025
9:30 - workshop begins at the Regal Community Centre, Oxford
10:00 - talks begin on the work of local catchment partners
11:15 - break time. Refreshments provided.
11:30 - talks on systematic review methodologies
12:00 - conducting a systematic review of freshwater ecosystems
13:00 - lunch, provided.
13:45 - travel to Ludgershall Habitat Bank, Upper Ray Meadows
14:00 - tour with Debbie Lewis, BBOWT
16:00 - travel to Oxford city centre for overnight stay.
17:00 - day one close.
19:00 - dinner provided, Slug & Lettuce Oxford.
8th April 2025
9:15 – Travel to the Blenheim Estate
10:00 - tour of the River Dorn catchment NFM scheme, open to all
12:00 - lunch provided
13:00 - continuation of early career workshop: systematic review & presentation finalization. Open to: participants of the first day.
14:30 - presentations
15:30 - workshop closes. Return to Oxford Station.
Registration - please note registration for this event has now closed
Early Career Workshop attendees will be provided with lunch and refreshments both days, and dinner on the 7th. Workshop participants will need to arrange accommodation in the centre of Oxford themselves, although recommendations can be provided upon registration.
Transport to/from Ludgershall Habitat Bank on day one and to/from Blenheim Estate for the student workshop participants only will be provided, those just attending the NFM trip should arrange their own transport.
Register before 23:59 on the 31st March. Prior to the workshop, you will be asked to complete form to inform us of dietary and accessibility requirements.
Fees
The workshop is FREE for our student members - please email students@iale.uk to register.
Our early-career (non-students within 5 years of their last degree) members can join for a small fee (pay below). This event is available only to our members - join here from £15.