Blenheim Palace is set to be home to a mini farm for the summer, featuring Buff Orpington chickens, Berkshire pigs and Cotswold sheep. All breeds are native livestock breeds, considered at risk and monitored for conservation. It opens next week. www.experienceoxfordshire.org/have-ewe-her...

Oxfordshire’s all-in bus ticket has proved so popular that the County Council could resort to a price hike to avoid running out of subsidy cash. Without a price rise, they forecast that the MyBus ticket could cost them up to £3.2m next year.

Plans to reduce the number of car parking spaces in new developments around Oxford have been put on hold by Oxfordshire County Council. A consortium of land-owning colleges had objected to the new guidelines, which they said would make housing less marketable. news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/parking-stan...

Oxfordshire has its first two “side-road zebra crossings”, installed without Belisha beacons or zig-zags, on St Margaret’s Rd where it meets Banbury Rd in north Oxford, and on Cornwallis Rd where it meets Henley Ave in east Oxford. Such crossings are standard in mainland Europe but rare in the UK.

A prolific bicycle thief operating in Cowley has been given Criminal Behaviour Order. Charlotte Pauling pleaded guilty to two bicycle thefts, as well as driving without insurance, breaching a Closure Order and repeatedly breaching a Community Protection Notice, say Thames Valley Police (TVP).

We have been sent this picture of a college cat from Christ’s College, Cambridge. We’re biased but we reckon Oxford cats are cuter. oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...

Yes

Oxford University is part of a new 'Defence Alliance' of 35 universities across the UK to "help strengthen defence research, build critical skills and support the UK's future defence capability", the government announced yesterday. www.gov.uk/government/n...

The Deputy Lord Mayor's cat goes to the vet by zero emission transport: Billy, still smarting from his demotion from Lord Mayor’s Cat to Deputy Lord Mayor’s cat, suffered the further indignity of a trip to the vet this week, as pictured here.

Oxford’s Green councillors say the city should stand firm against “a manufactured moral panic which seeks to demonise the existence of trans and nonbinary people”. They are calling on the City Council to support their rights in the face of “overly simplistic approaches to sex, gender and sexuality”.

A call for action on “illegal e-bikes” (electric motorcycles) will be heard at Oxford City Council’s monthly meeting, which begins shortly. Labour councillors Ed Turner and Anna Railton say that Government proposals are not enough and that “delivery platforms must feel the full force of the law”.

Fire crews remain on site at Fyfield Wick, near Kingston Bagpuize, after a blaze that swept through the Oaks caravan park and surrounding fields. Around 125 firefighters in total have been called out to the incident. There are no reported injuries.

Traffic cameras are to be installed at the A40 Barton Park junction, the scene of several collisions between motorists and vulnerable road users. The cameras will detect both red light jumpers and drivers exceeding the 50mph limit. There is no bridge or underpass at the site.

Catania-to-Cantabrigia cafe Aromi has opened its Oxford branch on St Michael’s Street, offering “freshly baked Sicilian pizza, focaccia, pastries, cannoli and coffee”. Lord Mayor Chewe Munkonge cut the ribbon for the company’s fourth outlet and the first outside Cambridge.

A Banbury councillor is calling on fellow representatives to come clean about AI use. In a motion submitted to Cherwell District Council, Kerrie Thornhill (Lab, Banbury Hardwick) warns: “AI-authored materials imitating public works, or official news sources, have the potential to be misleading.”

Thornhill Park & Ride is opening up to budget airport parking. Long-term tariffs will offer 8-day parking for £15 or 15 days for £30, which even when added to the Airline coach fare (£37.50 return) vastly undercuts Heathrow’s own Park & Ride at £37.40 per day. The current maximum stay is 72 hours.

For anyone wanting to display a flag on the highways of Oxfordshire without falling foul of an injunction, BMW has launched a Mini Cooper Oxford Edition with a Union Flag on the roof. The limited edition 3-door car is intended to “celebrate 25 years of modern Mini”.

The future of Henley’s River & Rowing Museum building has been cast into doubt again after Henley Town Council vetoed plans to turn it into a commercial fitness centre. The museum, built on land leased from the council, closed in September after its trustees concluded it was uneconomic.

The River Thames has its first all-electric patrol boat. The Environment Agency launched the new Blackwater Joule at Henley Regatta, the first in a trial programme that will eventually replace diesel engines. 20 such boats are being deployed at river and coastal locations. www.gov.uk/government/n...

The South Oxfordshire village of Goring-on-Thames could get a recreational bike track. The Parish Council says that initial discussions with track designers are “exciting” and have led them to “consider more ambitious plans using a larger piece of land”; they hope to identify a supportive landowner.

"Rabbits and guinea pigs must not be forgotten during warmer weather. Hutches and runs can quickly become dangerously hot. If you suspect your pet may have heatstroke, Iffley Vets is now open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In an emergency you can contact us on: 01865 242600." iffleyvets.com

She continued "However heatstroke can affect any animal, regardless of breed, age or size. Pets should always have access to fresh water, adequate ventilation and a cool, shaded area, and exercise should be avoided during the hottest parts of the day."

Speaking to the Clarion, Tania Zavala of Iffley Vets sounded the warning more generally, saying "Brachycephalic breeds, such as Bulldogs and Pugs are among those most at risk of heatstroke because their shortened airways make it harder for them to regulate their body temperature effectively"

Local vets are warning that pets need considered care in this ongoing hot weather. The Dogs Trust say never to leave your dog in a vehicle, as a dog could die in a hot car in just minutes, and that winding a window down is not enough to help your dog stay cool. www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/l...

But you do look glorious in this, and on duty though...

The King continued to Harwell, where he officially opened the UK Space and Defence Gateway at Harwell Campus. The Gateway will be a dedicated hub for the space and defence sectors, building collaborative partnerships to shape tomorrow's space and defence economy.

The Crafters' Emporium on Cornmarket appears to have closed, with a notice on the door indicating bailiffs have taken possession of the property. The business was run as a community interest company, supporting crafters across the county; they also had outlets in Bicester, Kidlington and Faringdon.

Schoolchildren lined the route as Her Royal Highness arrived. James Clarke, MD of Hook Norton Brewery: “It was an absolute honour to welcome Her Royal Highness to the Brewery. As well as a celebration of the Brewery, it was also very much a celebration of the Hook Norton community.”

In the Stable Courtyard, Her Royal Highness met those involved in the brewery's recent restoration project following the devastating fire in 2024, before proceeding to the stables to meet Hooky's famous Shire horses, Balmoral, Brigadier and Cromwell.

The Princess Royal met staff, directors, local representatives and community figures during her tour, including Oxfordshire County Council Chair, Councillor Ted Fenton, Chair of Cherwell District Council Councillor Nigel Simpson, and the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, Mr Jawaid Malik.