Otmoor
Encyclopedia
Otmoor or Ot Moor is an area of wetland
and wet grassland
in Oxfordshire
, England, located halfway between Oxford
and Bicester
. It is about 60 metres (196.9 ft) above sea level, and has an area of approximately 160 hectares (395.4 acre).
It is encircled by the "Seven Towns" of Otmoor: Beckley
, Noke
, Oddington
, Charlton-on-Otmoor
, Fencott
, Murcott
and Horton-cum-Studley
.
between Bicester
and Dorchester-on-Thames, its name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon for "Otta's Fen".
, it was until the early 19th century unenclosed marshland, and regularly flooded in winter. An Enclosure Act was passed in 1815, under which the area was extensively drained. This disadvantaged the local farmers and led to civil disturbances known as the Otmoor Riots of 1829 to 1830.
acquired Otmoor for use as a bombing range
. Part of the moor remains in military use as a rifle range.
to cross Otmoor. Opposition to the motorway was led by Friends of the Earth
and included the "Alice's Meadow
" campaign. The government eventually adopted an alternative route.
Since 1997 a large part of Otmoor has been made an RSPB nature reserve
, with large areas of land being returned to marshland.
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
and wet grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, England, located halfway between Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
and Bicester
Bicester
Bicester is a town and civil parish in the Cherwell district of northeastern Oxfordshire in England.This historic market centre is one of the fastest growing towns in Oxfordshire Development has been favoured by its proximity to junction 9 of the M40 motorway linking it to London, Birmingham and...
. It is about 60 metres (196.9 ft) above sea level, and has an area of approximately 160 hectares (395.4 acre).
It is encircled by the "Seven Towns" of Otmoor: Beckley
Beckley, Oxfordshire
Beckley is a village in the civil parish of Beckley and Stowood, overlooking Otmoor to the north. The village is about northeast of the centre of Oxford. It is noted for its towering TV mast.-Archaeology:...
, Noke
Noke, Oxfordshire
Noke is a small village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about northeast of Oxford. It is on the southeast edge of Otmoor and is one of the "Seven Towns of Otmoor".The toponym is derived from Old English and means "at the oak trees"...
, Oddington
Oddington, Oxfordshire
Oddington is a village and civil parish about south of Bicester in Oxfordshire, England. The village is close to the River Ray on the northern edge of Otmoor.-History:...
, Charlton-on-Otmoor
Charlton-on-Otmoor
Charlton-on-Otmoor is a village and civil parish about south of Bicester in Oxfordshire, England. The village is close to the River Ray on the northern edge of Otmoor.-Church of England:Charlton had a parish church by the 11th century...
, Fencott
Fencott and Murcott
Fencott and Murcott is a civil parish about south of Bicester in the Cherwell district of Oxfordshire, England.The parish is bounded on the north and west by the River Ray and has an area of about . It includes the villages of Fencott and Murcott and has a population of about 250 residents. There...
, Murcott
Fencott and Murcott
Fencott and Murcott is a civil parish about south of Bicester in the Cherwell district of Oxfordshire, England.The parish is bounded on the north and west by the River Ray and has an area of about . It includes the villages of Fencott and Murcott and has a population of about 250 residents. There...
and Horton-cum-Studley
Horton-cum-Studley
Horton-cum-Studley is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about northeast of the centre of Oxford.-Civil parish:The hamlet of Studley was originally in two parts: one in Oxfordshire and the other in the Hundred of Ashendon in Buckinghamshire. Horton was always part of Oxfordshire...
.
History
Bisected north–south by the Roman RoadRoman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
between Bicester
Bicester
Bicester is a town and civil parish in the Cherwell district of northeastern Oxfordshire in England.This historic market centre is one of the fastest growing towns in Oxfordshire Development has been favoured by its proximity to junction 9 of the M40 motorway linking it to London, Birmingham and...
and Dorchester-on-Thames, its name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon for "Otta's Fen".
Enclosure
Watered by the River RayRiver Ray
The River Ray is a river in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, England. It rises at Quainton Hill and flows west through a flat countryside for around 25 km or 15 miles. It passes the village of Ambrosden and then flows through Otmoor...
, it was until the early 19th century unenclosed marshland, and regularly flooded in winter. An Enclosure Act was passed in 1815, under which the area was extensively drained. This disadvantaged the local farmers and led to civil disturbances known as the Otmoor Riots of 1829 to 1830.
Military range
In 1920 the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
acquired Otmoor for use as a bombing range
Bombing range
A bombing range is an area used for testing explosive ordnance and practicing to accurately direct them to the target. Bombing ranges are used for munitions that either explode or produce too much destruction to use at a shooting range, such as kinetic energy penetrators or very large caliber...
. Part of the moor remains in military use as a rifle range.
Motorway to nature reserve
The semi-wetland landscape provided habitat for many rare species of birds and butterflies. These were threatened in 1980 by a government proposal for the route of the M40 motorwayM40 motorway
The M40 motorway is a motorway in the British transport network that forms a major part of the connection between London and Birmingham. Part of this road forms a section of the unsigned European route E05...
to cross Otmoor. Opposition to the motorway was led by Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth (EWNI)
Friends of the Earth is one of 70 national groups around the world which make up the Friends of the Earth network of environmental organizations...
and included the "Alice's Meadow
Alice's Meadow
Alice's Meadow is the name given to a small field in the Oxfordshire parish of Fencott and Murcott, England. It became the focus of a campaign by local people and Friends of the Earth in the 1980s, who opposed government plans to route the M40 motorway across Otmoor.The name 'Alice's Meadow' is a...
" campaign. The government eventually adopted an alternative route.
Since 1997 a large part of Otmoor has been made an RSPB nature reserve
RSPB Otmoor
RSPB Otmoor is a nature reserve , run by the RSPB, within the wider area of Otmoor, in Oxfordshire, England. It was established in 1997 and restored large areas of marshland....
, with large areas of land being returned to marshland.
External links
- Further information is available on the Otmoor Noticeboard website
- 'Starlings on Otmoor' video