GC2437C Stratfield brake - Max's retreat (Traditional Cache) in Southern England, United Kingdom created by Go catch

This cache has been archived.

Deceangi: Thank you to the Cache Owner for taking the initial action of Disabling this cache, the Woodland Trust have now requested it's Archival. Due to the Area now being a compartment 1a Designation. And has been closed to the public for the foreseeable future.

[red]Request to all Members! Please Remove this Waypoint from your GPS and all Off Line Databases. The area is now Out of Bounds![/red]

Deceangi Volunteer UK Reviewer Geocaching.com

GC2437C ▼

A cache by Go catch Message this owner

Hidden : 2/18/2010

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Stratfield Brake is an 18.6 hectare site situated on low-lying land about a mile to the south of Kidlington and 3 miles north of Oxford. It lies on an area of green belt land bounded by the Oxford Canal on the western edge, the Stratfield Brake Sports Ground to the north and the A4260 road to the east.

The site was acquired by The Woodland Trust on a 250-year lease from Oxfordshire County Council in 1997 during The Woodland Trust’s "Woods on your Doorstep" (WOYD) campaign. The site is level with several distinct habitats.

Five hectares of the site was planted with new native woodland in 1998 through the WOYD campaign. This planting helps to buffer a 2.5 ha. block of mature, secondary woodland that lies in the south of the site. A small area of mature woodland at the southern edge of Stratfield Brake is in the early stages of an interesting evolution that will benefit nature and mankind alike. Here is woodland in the making. A large swathe of young trees, planted 10 years ago, is now emerging. This adjoins open ground which is grazed, a large wetland project created in partnership with the Environment Agency and a new sports field.

Eight hectares of the site was used to construct a wetland area which was completed in 2001. There is approximately three hectares of open water, with the remaining five hectares comprising rough grassland that has developed naturally on former setaside land. This land is grazed under a Countryside Stewardship agreement between April and November. There are numerous paths crossing through the site, some of which were improved in 2009 with a hard surface. The Oxford Canal can be reached through Stratfield Brake via a footbridge over the canal.

The site is close to several large, urban areas such as Kidlington and Oxford and is popular with local people for quiet recreational activities like dog walking. Bird watching is possible from locations overlooking the wetland.

There are several benches provided in various locations throughout the area for you sit and enjoy the scenery and wildlife.

The cache name came about after my Springer 'Max', who is often seen roaming the area looking for other dogs to play with.

Beware it is a very popular area for dog walkers and they can suddenly appear, so get your excuses ready!

"Cache placed with the kind permission of Woodland Trust".

FTF Honours: OldBazza (especially on his first FTF as well)

Hint added 14/04/2010 any finds before this date deserve extra recognition