🍂 Enstone Eco Newsletter – October 2025

Ian Cave
Sep 29
3 min read

Exploring, Learning & Celebrating Nature’s Shift into Autumn

As the seasons shift and the air turns crisp, Enstone is still buzzing with nature — not with bees though, but with brilliant community energy! August and September brought two very special events that showcased the beauty and richness of our local habitats: a magical bat walk under the stars, and an inspiring guided tour of Enstone’s rarely-seen Local Wildlife Site. Thank you to everyone who took part – read on to relive the highlights, and don’t miss our autumn action tips below!

🦇 Enstone Bat Safari: Night-Time Nature at Its Best

On 13th September, a lucky group of nature lovers joined guide Frank Lucas from Oxfordshire Bat Group for a twilight tour of Enstone’s bat population – and what an evening it was! After a fascinating talk inside St Kenelm’s Church, we stepped into the dark and used bat detectors to listen in on the hidden world of these incredible flying mammals. We learnt about the various types of bats we heard and saw nature in action right here in our village. Some of the bats we saw were Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle, Noctule Bat and Leisler's Bat. We even heard a Tawny Owl calling out over The Planks!

Did you know? Bats are the second most numerous mammals in the world, and Enstone is lucky to host several species! Even more astonishing – bats use ultrasonic sound to navigate and hunt, and their eardrums are specially adapted to protect them from their own screeches. Huge thanks to Frank for his expertise and to everyone who joined us for a truly special evening.

🌿 Kate’s Meadow Tour: Hidden Wildlife at The Planks

At the end of August, Kate Farquhar-Thomson led a guided tour through a stunning and rarely accessed area of Enstone along the River Glyme. With the weather on our side, we discovered rich plant life, snake skins, signs of otters, and a host of insects and wildflowers. It was a real treat to see the biodiversity thriving just outside our doorstep. Thank you, Kate, for your insight and passion – and to all who joined for this wonderful walk.

💚 Community in Action: Autumn Tips from Friends of the Earth

October is a great time to care for nature even as growth slows. This month, we’re echoing advice from Friends of the Earth:"Let your garden go a little wild this autumn – leave seed heads, piles of leaves and dead wood to provide food and shelter for birds, insects and hedgehogs. What looks untidy to us is a vital habitat for wildlife!"

A few things you can do:

Collect and save seeds from your wildflowers for planting next spring
Leave leaf piles in corners for hedgehogs and overwintering insects
Avoid over-tidying flower beds – stems and seed heads are important food sources
Keep planting – autumn is a great time for putting in trees, hedges and bulbs

Small actions add up – so let’s make our gardens havens for biodiversity this season!

💚 A Big Thank You to Ian

This month, we want to give a heartfelt thank you to Ian Cave, who has been such a dedicated, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic founder of Enstone Eco. As Ian moves to Malvern, we will miss his energy, humour, and commitment to everything from riverfly monitoring to community events, workshops, and input on our brilliant blogs. Ian’s passion for nature and tireless work behind the scenes have helped shape what Enstone Eco is today and had a profound impact on the village. While while he is stepping back somewhat, we know he will always be part of the Enstone Eco family and will continue to be involved at select events and meetings, while supporting us remotely. Thank you, Ian, for everything you’ve done for the community and local environment. Wishing you all the best in your new adventures! 🌿🥾

*Action shot of Ian preparing the ground for wildflowers!*

🍁 What’s Next?

Although the growing season is winding down, we’re not! Keep your eyes on our website events page for upcoming seasonal volunteering opportunities, and winter wildlife tips.

Riverfly Monitoring - Saturday 27 September
Riverfly Monitoring - Wednesday 22 October

Some of you may have taken part in this important Citizen Science project to collect valuable data and to help build a better freshwater future. If you'd like to learn more/get involved in monthly testing of the river and streams around Enstone, get in touch!

Other Local Events