University Park Farm
Welcome to Park Farm, over 100 acres available for your research project
The Oxford Green Estate is a new grouping of land assets at the University of Oxford, extending to over 3,000 acres. Its creation will provide a coordinated and consistent approach to strategic planning across the Estate, increase the visibility of academic opportunity, and increase opportunities for outreach.
Access
This map shows the public footpaths, gates, and parking facilities. Full access details will be provided when your research application is approved.
Park Farm
Park Farm comprises 115 acres of permanent pasture just across the River Cherwell from University Parks. Now that it is directly under the control of the University it can be used for research projects, taking advantage of its rich habitats, SSSI status, and central location. Further background to Park Farm can be found here .
SSSI
Park Farm is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and comprises a series of agriculturally unimproved neutral meadows on the flood plain of the River Cherwell. Within this area, calcareous clayey soils have formed on alluvium overlying terrace gravels, and supports a range of swamp and grassland types which are of national importance. Although still traditionally managed as summer-grazed pasture and fen or for hay, the different management practices giving rise to variations in plant communities between the fields.
Plants indicative of ancient grassland that are found within these meadows include common meadow-rue Thalictrum flavum, pepper-saxifrage Silaum silaus, devil's-bit scabious Succisa pratensis, and the nationally scarce fritillary Fritillaria Meleagris. For more information on SSSIs, please visit the Woodland Trust.
HLS Prescriptions
Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) aims to deliver significant environmental benefits in high-priority situations and areas. Its primary objectives include protection of the historic environment; wildlife conservation; natural resource protection; maintenance and enhancement of landscape quality and character; and promotion of public access and understanding of the countryside. At Park Farm, we undertake the following HLS options to help protect this special site.
HK6
This option is targeted at the maintenance and protection of areas of species-rich grassland. The importance of species-rich grassland is recognised by the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).The option can also contribute to protecting valued landscapes and archaeology, and the promotion of good soil conditions. Management includes grazing and/or cutting for hay; and no ploughing, reseeding or installation of new drainage.
HK7
This option is targeted at grasslands that are potentially rich in plant and associated animal life. They are often on difficult ground and may have suffered from management neglect or they may have been selected for agricultural improvement. The botanical diversity of such grassland may be enhanced by simply amending existing management practices, although it is likely pro-active restoration management will be required involving introduction of seeds and creation of gaps for their establishment. Substantial changes of livestock type, timing of grazing or control of dominant species may also be required. This option can also contribute to protecting valued landscapes and archaeology, and the promotion of good soil conditions.
HK10
This option is used for maintaining wet grasslands that already provide suitable habitat for wintering populations of wildfowl and waders. Sometimes, it may be necessary to change the water management regime to continue to attract these birds. In addition, these grasslands may, in the right situation, provide an area of flood containment and some benefits to flood risk management. Avoiding disturbance of birds through recreational activities, maintaining ditches and existing field drainage systems and no grazing over the winter months are just a few of the management techniques used in this option.
Research Opportunities
This map shows the range of habitats suitable for various research studies. You can click on each area to find out more about the land parcels.
BSG Ecology were commissioned by the University of Oxford on 04 June 2024 to undertake a suite of baseline botanical monitoring at Park Farm in Marston.
The site required baseline botanical data to be collected prior to interventions intended to contribute to its long-term enhancement. The vegetation data is available for ongoing surveys – May/June survey. Suitable for 4th year projects. Please contact OGE@admin.ox.ac.uk.
The hedgerows and ditches have also been marked, as Park Farm presents good opportunities for studies on hedgerow and water management.
We hope that Park Farm will become as developed a research study site as OGE partner site Wytham Woods.
Park Farm Soil Type
There are 3 different soil profiles that can be found at the Park Farm site: Fladbury, Wickham and Shabbington.
Submit your application
For further GIS layers, information on current research activities at Park Farm, and outreach opportunities, please get in touch with the Oxford Green Estate team:
This map can be expanded for a more detailed satellite view, with the GIS overlay.
