Friends of Lye Valley

@friendlyevalley

We care for this 14,000 year-old internationally rare habitat, a tufa-forming alkaline spring fen, together with the calcareous grassland of Rock Edge. Headington, Oxford. www.friendsoflyevalley.org.uk

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Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· 2d

Our Grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) is having another spectacular year. From just a few plants, careful seed collection over the last decade has led to a stunning display, with literally countless flowering plants. A real conservation success! 🌍 #WildflowerHour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

A cluster of small white flowers on long thin stems fills the centre of the photo, with a few other flowers towards the left. They are growing through a plant with small green crinkly leaves, and small purple flowers, Marsh Lousewort, nationally Vulnerable, and Rare in Oxfordshire.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· 4d

We were joined this week by a couple of entomologists looking for bugs, leafhoppers in particular. We look forward to their records with interest! #inverts @tverc1.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social

A man with dark blue jeans, a light blue shirt and grey hat is standing amongst low vegetation holding a large white sweep net with yellow edging at arms length. The background is a mix of taller reed and Hemp Agrimony in flower.

A man is standing in the centre of the photo with light coloured trousers, a blue jacket and light cap. He's looking to his left. He's holding a white net on a short handle in his right hand, and in his left, a Perspex "pooter" with clear tubing attached. He's standing in knee high vegetation against a backdrop of masses of Hemp Agrimony flowers.

A man just left of centre is using a modified leaf sucker to collect insects from the vegetation.

Two men standing in knee high vegetation are staring into their respective sweep nets.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· 6d

A grass fire in The Slade entrance to the Lye Valley was promptly extinguished by the Fire Brigade yesterday. Thankfully there was no damage to neighbouring properties, and the fire was restricted to an area about 30m x 2m. Ironically it was due to be cut today... @headingtonnews.bsky.social

On the left of the photo a burnt strip edged with short brown grass. Top left a singed "Mile-a-minute" vine. From the centre to the right of the photo a stony path. Also on the right in the mid distance a wide metal fence, and behind it, another stony path. In the background is a major road, The Slade with a red car driving past the entrance. Also in the background from the centre to the right are overhanging trees with green leaves.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· 14d

Spot the Lizard! 😀 #JustForFun #reptiles 🐍

A photo of a couple of old logs, with a tangle of dead stems and some green vegetation to the left. Somewhere in the photo is a Common Lizard.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· 15d

We were delighted to welcome seven #volunteers from Amey, who chose to spend one of their two "social impact days" this year helping us with our #FenRestoration. Their help was much appreciated! #OxfordshireFens #conservation @judywebb.bsky.social 🌍

On the left a young man in dark jeans, a brown tee-shirt and a green peaked cap is standing on a boardwalk that passes through lush green vegetation on both sides. He is handing a clump of peat to a woman who is standing next the boardwalk, on the fen itself. To her right two other woman are waiting as part of a human chain to pass the peat to the side of a brook where they're using it to create a low bund to retain water on the fen.

Two men are raking cut dried grass onto a drag sheet. The one on the left is in blue jeans, wellies, a dark top, and a dark peaked cap. The one on the right is wearing orange hi-vis trousers, a light coloured tee-shirt, and a dark cap.

On the right of the photo two men are standing on a boardwalk. One is holding the back of a drag sheet filled with cut reed, while a woman with blue jeans and a dark top is holding the front. She's already on the fen, and the man with the drag sheet is about to step down. Going from the bottom left corner of the photo, a line of previously dumped straw coloured cut reed can be seen along the banks of a brook which is not visible.

Just left of centre a young woman in short black leggings and a reddish top is pushing a wheelbarrow full of root balls of Pendulous Sedge that has been dug out from the margins of a dried up pond. Behind her another woman in pale blue dungarees is partially visible.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· 20d

Delighted to spot this female Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi) in the fen this morning, the first of the year for us here. 😍 #inverts #UKWildlife #OxfordshireFens @britishspiders.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social

A largish yellow with black rings on the abdomen and legs is viewed from the top. It is facing downwards, and the head isn't visible. The strands of the web are visible, and below the spider is a zigzag section of the web called the stabilimentum, the purpose of which is unknown. The background is a jumble of thin lush green stems.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· 27d

The very first of our Grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) or "bog star" flowers are just starting to open. 😍 Let's hope this is another bumper year for one of the southern most populations of this plant. #WildflowerHour @bsbibotany.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social

Just above the centre a small white flower with grey lines on its petals and with yellow anthers is growing on a longish stem, surrounded by other low growing vegetation.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Jul 12

In 2022 we reintroduced Creeping Marshwort (Helosciadium repens). Endangered on the GB #RedList, there are only a handful of sites where it now grows. This week, we sheared round and over it to simulate the grazing it needs. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social #WildflowerHour

A woman in a white top and dark trousers is kneeling on the ground facing left. Behind her dense vegetation, in front the vegetation is much shorter. She's holding a pair of wooden handled shears with red markings on and round the handles.

A close up photo showing Creeping Marshwort leaves and flowers. There are seven tiny white and pink umbels on short stems.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Jul 10

Sooo many butterflies in the Valley at the moment. Here's a pristine Green-veined White (Pieris napi) refuelling on some of our Ragwort flowers. 😍 They love the damp lush conditions in our #fen. #inverts #UKWildlife @upperthames.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social #OxfordshireFens

Just to left of centre a a mall white butterfly with prominent green lines spreading from its body to wing tips. It's facing right, and and its proboscis is probing a small yellow flower. The yellow florets nearer the camera are defocussed. The background is a plan dark green with a couple of lighter patches top and bottom.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Jul 5

A fasciated Water Figwort (Scrophularia auriculata) plant. Caused by genetic mutation, viral infection, or the bacterium Rhodococcus fascians, it causes these wide and flat stems, with many more flowers than usual. #OxfordshireFens #WildflowerHour @bsbibotany.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social

A wide and curved green stem with red edges is covered in tiny red flowers and small green seeds. the background is slightly defocussed long green leaves.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Jun 21

Our Marsh Helleborines are just coming into flower. 😍 Vulnerable on the #EnglandRedList, it's Scarce in Oxon, and Rare in vc23. Thanks to our continued #FenRestoration work, this is now probably the best place to see them in Oxfordshire. @bsbibotany.bsky.social #WildflowerHour

In the foreground three flower spikes on reddish stems are growing through otherwise green vegetation. Each spike has up to ten or twelve flower buds, a few if which are just open.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Jun 20

We spotted this pristine Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) butterfly in the fen a couple of days ago. Although common, they have a relatively short flight period, so enjoy them while they're around! #UKWildlife #UKButterflies #NaturePhotography #inverts 🦋

A dark brown butterfly with white edging to the wings and small black dots near the edge. It's sitting on a green leaf facing up and slightly to the left.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Jun 19

We've currently got hundreds of Common Spotted Orchids dotting the fen here. Numbers seem to be increasing year on year thanks to our ongoing scything and raking. Worth a visit if you're local! #WildflowerHour #OxfordshireFens #orchids 🌍

In the centre a clump of four pale pink orchids. They have distinctive darker pink spots and stripes on their three-lobed lips. The flowers are densely packed in short, cone-shaped clusters. The background is a variety of light green vegetation.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· May 28

Wonder what we're doing in the Lye Valley or at Rock Edge? Come and see us at the Headington Festival, this Sunday 31 May 2026 between 1pm and 5pm to talk about these and other local #GreenSpaces. #OX3 @judywebb.bsky.social 🌍

A stylised banner with a striped red and white marquee, an ice cream stall, and two trees, left and right. There is pink, yellow and green bunting along the top.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Apr 17

The first of our insectivorous Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris) rosettes have just emerged. Perfectly adapted to life in low nutrient environments, its sticky leaves trap small insects and then digest them. 😊 #OxfordshireFens #CarnivorousPlants @bsbibotany.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social

A rosette with fleshy bright green leaves which are roughly triangular in shape is emerging from very wet ground with traces of moss, dead reed stems, and some grass.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Apr 11

Marsh Lousewort (Pedicularis palustris) is a biennial hemi-parasite that weakens reed, sedge and rush. Rare in Oxon and Vulnerable nationally, it's thriving here where we use it as a key part of our #FenRestoration work. Here a young plant is showing the halo effect of reduced growth around it. 🌰🌍

In the centre a small bright green plant with crinkled leaves has a roughly circular space around it with little else growing. Further away, there is a mass of dark green rush growing up.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Apr 9

Lots of male Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) butterflies patrolling the sunny banks of the Valley yesterday. A huge patch of Garlic Mustard proved to be a popular refuelling stop! #UKWildlife #UKButterflies #OX3 #iRecorded @savebutterflies.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social

A small butterfly with orange tipped white wings is taking nectar from a plant with fresh green leaves and a tiny cluster of white flowers at the top. To the left another plant of the same kind. The background is diffuse green and black.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Apr 8

The unseasonably warm weather brought our Common Lizards (Zootoca vivipara) out this morning. The first we've seen so far this year! 🦎 😍 #reptiles #UKWildlife @arc-trust.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social

A small lizard is emerging from the bark of an old log. Its tail and feet aren't visible. It's facing right and pointing slightly down. It's looking up as though at the camera, and its right eye is visible. There are some old bits of dead reed stems resting on the bark as well as a couple of thin pieces of dead stalk. To the left there are a few green leaves.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Apr 2

Despite the low temperatures, one of our volunteers counted 16 Slow worms (Anguis fragilis) sheltering under our reptile mats yesterday. Four adults and twelve juveniles. Seems like a good start to the year! #reptiles 🐍 [archive pic] @arc-trust.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social

A thin pale shiny coloured reptile (actually a legless lizard) is emerging from the cover of some grass into a bare stony area. It's moving from left to right, and its small eye is clearly visible.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Mar 27

Headington Action kindly funded a survey of spiders and other invertebrates in the Valley. 506 invertebrate species in total, 83 species of spiders, one Nationally rare beetle, and seven Nationally Scarce other invertebrates. Link to report below. #inverts @tverc1.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social

On the right a man in neutral coloured clothing is holding a large white "sweep net" with a short silver handle. He's surrounded by knee-high vegetation.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Mar 25

More #SignsOfSpring here in the Valley, the first of our Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris) is just coming into flower! 😀 #WildFlowerHour #OxfordshireFens @judywebb.bsky.social

Roughly centre a plant forms a clump with medium sized rounded leaves, a few open yellow flowers, and lots of tight buds showing yellow at their tops. It's growing in shallow water, and has a number Flag Iris growing behind it with tall thin green leaves. On the left are a number of still short "horsetails", with thin rounded stems and alternating light and darker strips, a prehistoric native plant.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Mar 23

We've got good numbers of Scarlet Tiger (Callimorpha dominula) moth caterpillars on Comfrey plants in the Peat Moors entrance to the Valley at the moment. Looking forward to seeing the colourful adults later in the year! #inverts #TeamMoth #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography @judywebb.bsky.social

Four gold and black caterpillars are visible. Two just left and below centre, one on the right about centre, and one just above centre. They're on green leaves that have had holes eaten out of them.

A roughly triangle shaped moth is resting on the ground facing let and slightly down. It has its wings slightly open showing off the scarlet hind wings after which it is named. The upper wings are black with yellow and white blotches on them.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Mar 20

We've got tadpoles! Hundreds of tadpoles! Quite appropriate for #WorldFrogDay! 🐸 #UKWildlife #amphibians #nature #PondWatch @judywebb.bsky.social @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social

A photo looking down into shallow water with a mass of tiny dark tadpoles. There are a few bits of green vegetation as well.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Mar 19

A Peacock (Aglais io) butterfly refuelling on Blackthorn blossom in the warm Spring sunshine. 😍 #inverts #UKWildlife #SignsOfSpring #BlossomWatch @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social

A large reddish coloured butterfly with blue and yellow "eyes" on its wings is resting amongst small white flowers on thin twigs. It's pointing downwards facing towards the bottom left corner of the photo.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Mar 17

One of our volunteers finished counting the eggs of the scarce Brown Hairstreak butterfly in the Valley this week, and the total for 2025 is 37 eggs, a little down on last year's total. Anyone know if this is in line with national trends? 🤔 #inverts #UKWildlife @savebutterflies.bsky.social

A light brown butterfly with white vertical markings on the wing with what looks like a small "tail" at the back. It's feeding on an open bramble flower.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Mar 10

The first of our Primroses are just starting to flower in The Slade entrance to the Valley. 😊 Planted by our volunteers over a number of years, they're one more #SignsOfSpring. #WildflowerHour #OX3 #LocalWildlifeSite #GreenSpace @judywebb.bsky.social

Just to the right of centre a group of very pale yellow flowers with darker yellow centres with orange lines radiating from the centre of the flower. There is another flower top left slightly out of focus. They're growing up through grass and some thin dead twigs. Their leaves are a dark crinkly green.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Mar 9

An account of our Wildflower Enhancement Project at Rock Edge in Oxford including a list of plants introduced can be found here: www.friendsoflyevalley.org.uk/rockedge/pdf... @bsbibotany.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social

In the foreground a mass of wildflowers are growing through long grass. In the background are some houses and small trees. The sky is mostly cloudy.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Mar 9

Our Wildflower Enhancement Project at Rock Edge has increased populations of important wildflowers such as Field and Small Scabious and vastly increased the resource of nectar and pollen-rich flowers available to insects on this amenity grassland. Link in next post. 🌰🌍 #WildflowerHour

At the bottom of the photo a partial view of a pavement with a bench towards the right hand side. Behind it a mass of wild flowers, mostly Kidney Vetch and Ox-eye Daisies. In the background are houses, a few parked cars, and some small trees. There are white clouds in an otherwise blue sky.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Mar 5

Forget about an elf on the shelf, look at what we've got! 😀 #UKWildlife #amphibians #frog #nature #photography 📷🐸🐍

A Common Frog (Rana temporaria) sitting on a log. There's some dead reed floating in the water in front of the log, and some dead reed behind the log to the left. In the bottom right corner, there's some light green pond weed. The frog's partial reflection is visible bottom centre.

Friends of Lye Valley@friendlyevalley· Feb 28

🐸 We have frogspawn at last! 🐸 And what looks like a frog free-for-all! #SignsOfSpring #SpawnWatch #ClassOf2026 @arc-trust.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social