Apple Day is being held at Langford Community Orchard from 2.00 – 4.00pm on Sunday 4th October. Activities include apple pressing, face painting, a scarecrow competition and bug hunting with the local wildlife trust. There is also a seed, plant and produce swap table, plus cakes and drinks. Entry is free.

Visitors will have an opportunity to sign a petition to have the orchard designated as a Local Green Space to protect the land from future development. Further details of this can be seen in the agenda and minutes of the June 2015 meeting of Bicester Town Council Environment Committee.

The orchard is located opposite Dunlin Court along the footpath running between Mallards Way and London Road (see map).

Councillor Dan Sames is organising a litter pick around Langford on Saturday 25th July, meeting at the community hall in Nightingale Place at 09.30. Bags and litter pickers will be provided.

Please participate if you can and bring the family along as well.

Message sent via Thames Valley Alert on behalf of Thames Valley Police:

A burglary took place in  Sanderling Close between 1pm-3pm on Friday 29th May.

Please alert neighbours and remain extra vigilant, If you saw anything suspicious or have any information that may help with police enquiries, please telephone Bicester Police Team on the non-emergency number 101 with information or 999 for immediate police attention. Alternatively if you have information that could help us but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Future alert messages relevant to Langford residents will continue to be posted on the LVCA website, but if you wish to receive emails about these and other messages from Thames Valley Police you can register online at  https://www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/

Message sent via Thames Valley Alert on behalf of Thames Valley Police:

Amongst a number of crimes committed in Bicester over the spring bank holiday, a property in OSPREY CLOSE was targeted sometime between 12:30pm & 5.45pm on the 25th May. No entry was gained but damage to the front door lock and letterbox were reported.

If you can help with enquiries in relation to this or other such crimes, please call the non-emergency number 101, or if you wish to remain anonymous you may call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Future alert messages relevant to Langford residents will continue to be posted on the LVCA website, but if you wish to receive emails about these and other messages from Thames Valley Police you can register online at  https://www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/

Update: 7th May 18.45

Mallards Way Meadows now clear of travellers. Some litter left and a few tyre tracks in the grass, but overall it could have been a lot worse.

Congratulations to the police and councillors for resolving this issue so quickly.

Update: 7th May 15.30

Bicester Town councillors Dan Sames & Nick Cotter report that Town Council staff and Thames Valley Police have met with the travellers and asked them to leave this afternoon. If necessary, Thames Valley Police will serve notice to leave by 18.00 under Section 61 of the Crime & Disorder Act and if enforcement is then required, the police will take action although this may be delayed until tomorrow morning to ensure adequate resources.

Original Article

On Wednesday 6th May a number of travellers moved onto the meadows  between Mallards Way and Langford Brook. This land is Bicester Town Council property and the Council Chief Officer promptly contacted Thames Valley Police, who have visited the site and issued a “code of conduct” (see Thames Valley Police document, Appendix C) pending further action by Bicester Council. In the meantime, the police have asked residents to report any cases of antisocial behaviour or criminal activity and they will respond to it.

A Home Office summary of available powers to deal with unauthorised encampments (2015) can be viewed here, together with the accompanying letter sent to local authorities and police.

Further updates to this post will be added when available.

A litter pick organised by Councillor Melanie Magee is being held on Saturday 4th October, meeting at the Community Hall in Nightingale Place at 10.00.

Please come along if you can, and bring the whole family to join in. Refreshments will be provided afterwards at the Community Hall, courtesy of the LVCA.

APPLE DAY is being held at Langford Community Orchard (opposite the footpath by Dunlin Court, Bicester, OX26 6WQ) on Sunday 28th September, from 2.00-4.00pm. Free entry.

Refreshments will be available, and there is also a treasure hunt, apple press, apple bobbing and produce table (donate/swap your surplus fruit & veg), plus arts & crafts.

A scarecrow competition is being held – design and build your own scarecrow and bring along to Apple Day for a chance to win a prize.

UPDATED 16th July 2014

Further events are being held at Meadow Farm during August and September.

Work parties looking after the habitats that form the Upper Ray Meadows continue to meet on Tuesdays 9:30am – 4pm; the next ones are 12 & 26 August and 9 & 23 September, then weekly from October. No experience is necessary – come along and give it a try. For more information contact Andy Collins, call 01869 245864 or email andycollins@bbowt.org.uk.

Family Event – Mega Meadow Moths: Saturday 6^th September, from 7:45pm – 9:15pm is a chance to get up close to some of the 120 species of moths found at Meadow Farm this year. Suitable for children 7 and over. Bookings only – Tel: 01869 245864 or email: meadowfarm@bbowt.org.uk. Guided walks and talks can also be arranged for local groups. Get in touch to book for spring or summer 2015.

See here for further details. Meadow Farm is on the B4011 near between Piddington and Blackthorn (Grid ref: SP 626 188; Post code: OX25 1TW). Click here for map.

Previous article 1st July 2014

A family event is being held on Saturday 12th July to explore the wildflower meadows at Meadow Farm, Blackthorn (approximately 3 miles from Langford – see map).

The event is suitable for children over 5 years, with the opportunity to hunt for minibeasts out and about in the day, and get up close to some night-time creatures.

Booking is essential – contact 01869 245864 or email meadowfarm@bbowt.org.uk.

Further details for this event can be seen here, and additional details of Meadow Farm can be found in previous LVCA website articles dated 24 May 2014 and 25 June 2013.

Cherwell District Council is organising a Neighbourhood Blitz in Langford Village during  23-27 June.

This will include a Recycling roadshow, extra pavement and road sweeping, litter picking and graffiti removal, discounted sales of blue & brown bins for £10, a one-off textile collection, fly tip removals and abandoned vehicles towed away for recycling.

Further details can be found here and here.

There will also be an opportunity for free bulky waste collections, which can be booked online.

Thanks to the generosity of local supporters and a substantial grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, BBOWT (Berks, Bucks, Oxon Wildlife Trust) purchased Meadow Farm, a 28ha site of rare wildflower meadows, earlier this year. This site is now integrated within the wider Upper Ray Living Landscape area, a further 100+ ha of grassland reserves which also owned and managed by BBOWT.

BBOWT is organising  a series of guided walks to explore Meadow Farm, and further details of these can be found here.

More information about Meadow Farm is  available on the Berks, Bucks, Oxon Wildlife Trust website: http://www.bbowt.org.uk/meadowfarm