Didcot GeoCache Series
After our recently placed GeoCache Series at Great Western Park (GWP) (cache #1-11, 14, 17-19) and in central Didcot (cache #12-13, 15-16, 20-22), we decide to place a few more caches in other parts of Didcot. We hope you enjoy these new caches, thank you!
Didcot #23 - Valley Park's First
Valley Park is a new housing development for around 4,200 new homes, consists of approximately 178 ha of land to the west of Didcot. The site consists of land mainly in agricultural use, with established hedgerows and trees. There is a stream that runs across the site from north to south and there are several public rights of way that cross the site including Cow Lane which is a bridleway.
To the east of the site is the recent development of Great Western Park, and the west of the site is bounded by the A34. The A4130 runs along the northern boundary. To the north is Milton Park, a large business park consisting of a range of employment uses. To the west beyond the A34 is the village of Harwell.
The site is approximately 3 km from the centre of Didcot, there are good links from the site along the A34 to the M4 and beyond. Didcot has a mainline railway station which is approximately 3km from the site. This provides regular services to London, Bristol and beyond.
Also, a BBC online article dated 29 July 2021 describes Valley Park as follows:
"Valley Park: Thousands of new homes in Didcot given outline approval
An outline plan for more than 4,200 new homes next to a major residential development has got the go-ahead.
The estate will be known as Valley Park and built next to Great Western Park, in Didcot, Oxfordshire, which will have an eventual 3,300 homes itself.
Vale of White Horse District Council's planning committee unanimously approved the Valley Park project on Wednesday.
Facilities to be built will include two primary schools, land for a special needs school and sports pitches.
Healthcare centre
It will form part of the Didcot Garden Town plan and 35% of the homes will be designated affordable.
Councillors ordered developers to pay a contribution towards the cost of new health facilities after Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG) initially objected.
OCCG said the "significant" development would mean current practices would not have the "capacity to absorb this level of population increase".
It will receive £2.8m towards a new healthcare centre in Great Western Park or, should that not be built, £3.3m so it can buy land elsewhere and build another nearby to serve new residents."
Information Sources:
https://valleyparkdidcot.co.uk/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-58013292
About this GeoCache:
It is the first geocache placed within Valley Park, and we hope it may attract geocachers, old and new, to this part of Didcot.
This cache is at ground level next to a tree, close to a road. As of November 2025 there are construction works going on near GZ, so please be safe and careful, especially when visiting with GeoKids and/or GeoPets. Please expect muggles at most times of the day.
Please also respect the local residents when searching for the cache. You do not need to enter any private land.
Please also note:
Please bring your own pen, and open & close the cache lid carefully so the cache and log book can survive longer. You might need a tweezer to help retrieve the log paper.
Please also replace exactly as found due to obvious reason, and please be careful with the possible thorns, stinging nettles, and overhead tree branches! Long sleeves, trousers, and gloves are recommended.
You do not need to enter any private land.
Thank you and enjoy GeoCaching!
FTF: Congratulations to Daffodilbob and Lmw1980 for their Joint FTF on 13 December 2025!
