Enstone Eco: July 2026 Newsletter

Hello everyone,

Summer is well and truly here, and Enstone's green spaces are buzzing. This month we've got some lovely wildlife news to share, a big thank-you from a recent event, and an exciting day out to tell you about. Read on!

Churchyard butterfly survey 

Earlier this month, a small group ventured out for our churchyard butterfly survey and came back with some lovely finds. Four species were recorded on the walk, including a Red Admiral and Meadow Browns drifting along the pathways. This is many more than before the grass was allowed to grow, when only one white butterfly was recorded. The grasses were swaying beautifully, and keeping a close eye on them revealed another treat: the striking striped caterpillars of the Cinnabar Moth, easy to spot once you know what you're looking for.

The seeded meadow area 

If you haven't visited the seeded area in the old churchyard recently, it's well worth a walk over. The area is absolutely full of life right now. Pyramidal orchids, yellow rattle, kidney vetch, and ox-eyed daisies are all in flower, and the bumblebees and hoverflies are making the most of it. It's a real reminder of what's possible when we give nature a little space.

Whiteways Tour: A Huge Thank You

What a day that was! We wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who came along to the Whiteways tour and donated so generously. Together you raised £125, which goes directly towards keeping our website running and supporting projects around the village. A special thanks to Craig for sharing his expert knowledge and insight on the day; it really made the tour something special. And to Emily and Ollie for hosting so warmly; they genuinely loved having everyone. We hope you all had as good a time as we did.

Coming Up: HDH Wills Biodiversity Day

Saturday 11 July 2026, 11am to 3pm

Ditchley Estate (follow signs from Charlbury via the Ditchley Road)

Free to attend

HDH Wills Charitable Trust is opening up parts of the Ditchley Estate for a Biodiversity Day, and it promises to be a fantastic afternoon. Come and explore the estate, speak to some of their experts, and see the work being done to support wildlife in our area. It's a great opportunity to learn and enjoy a lovely setting at the same time.

Photos

If you took any photos this month of the meadow, the butterflies, the Whiteways tour, or anything else you've spotted locally, please do share them with us. We'd love to feature them in future newsletters or on the website. Below is a selection of some submissions from activites this past month. 

That's all for July. As always, if you've got something to share (a sighting, a project update, an event), please get in touch.

Stay cool in the warm weather! 

The Enstone Eco Team