Banbury Ornithological Society - Grimsbury Woodland Reserve

Location: SP461425 - Access from A422 and parking at Spiceball Park by Water Works.

Postcode for SatNav: OX16 3JJ

Please read the Risk Assessment before you visit the reserve

A district Wildlife Site

Managed by the BOS on behalf of Thames Water

3.5ha site of Scots Pine and Alder, originally planted by the Forestry Commission, laterly enhanced by areas of varied shrubs planted by the BOS.

A mixture of birds has been recorded from the site, including wintering Siskin and Lesser Redpolls and warblers in the summer.

The site is adjacent to Grimsbury Reservoir which is a popular dog walking area. BOS requests that dog walkers keep their dogs on short leads should they enter the woodland, particularly during the breeding season.

Anyone wanting to help maintain this reserve should contact Reg Tipping for dates of work parties.

Sean Woodcock, MP for Banbury visited the BOS reserve at Balscote Quarry recently, to see conservation in action. Steve Holliday, one of the site wardens said, “Balscote may be a small site (6ha) but, through positive management, it holds Red List birds such as Lapwing and Yellowhammer, 24 species of butterfly and much more." We looked at the vital role volunteers play in habitat management on site and, in light of BOS data on local bird declines, how we can develop a more joined-up approach to nature conservation locally. We finished by discussing how new proposals in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill can benefit, not harm, biodiversity.

The Gambia - Richard Hall

Richard has visited The Gambia a couple of times and will explore the different habitats and regions of The Gambia as well as giving us some ideas of what birds are likely to be seen.

The Long Day Count is carried out by teams of observers in each of the twelve 10km squares recording the number of bird species seen during a maximum of 12 daylight hours on the second Sunday in May each year. Read more ...

Reserves

Grimsbury Woodland Reserve

Sean Woodcock MP visits Balscote Quarry

13 April 2026 - Indoor Meeting at 7.30pm

Long Day Count: 2 or 3 May 2026