Short course
Natural History of Port Meadow
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
20/05/2027 - 17/06/202710:30 - 12:30
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£190.00
This practical course combines close observation with hands‑on activities to build your skills in recording and identifying plants, insects and other wildlife, before uncovering how grazing, flooding and history shape this unique floodplain. Each week blends expert guidance with independent discovery, encouraging you to develop your own natural history practice while deepening your understanding of species interactions and conservation. Suitable for beginners and the curious, the course offers an experiential introduction to observing and interpreting the natural world.
Note that this course is entirely field-based: all sessions will be held in Port Meadow and Wolvercote Common (north-west of Oxford), weather permitting.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Contact the team
Phone: +44 (0)1865 280900
Course starts Thursday 20 May 2027
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Thursdays, 10.30am-12.30pm.
Note that this course is entirely field-based: all sessions will be held in Port Meadow and Wolvercote Common (north-west of Oxford), weather permitting.
Week 1: Natural history observations and recording
Week 2: Grassland flora and plant communities
Week 3: Insects and other invertebrates
Week 4: History, management and hydrology
Week 5: Landscape and species interactions
Please note: students will have to arrange their own transport for the field trips, and cover the cost of any entry fees.
Course aims
To develop participants’ skills in observing, identifying and recording wildlife and provide an introduction to environmental processes, ecology, and conservation of Port Meadow
Course objectives
- We will practice skills through note-taking, sketching, ID guides and aids, and basic survey techniques.
- A theme focus for every session will introduce learners to elements of ecology shaping the landscape and the species that live in it.
Learning outcomes
- Recognise major habitats and species of Port Meadow
- Understand how flooding and grazing shape ecosystems
- Gain basic fieldwork skills (surveying, identification, recording)
- Appreciate conservation issues affecting floodplain meadows
Level and demands
The Department’s Weekly Classes are taught at first year undergraduate level.
Teaching methods
The course is taught on site through demonstration, observation, and hands-on activities.
Assessment methods
This course is not accredited, so there are no assessments or coursework
Dr Ada Grabowska-Zhang
Ada is an ecologist and has researched behavioural ecology and conservation, focusing on birds. She applies her knowledge of ecology to growing food organically, and her knowledge of animal behaviour in fostering cats for an animal charity. She is a lecturer in Biology at Brasenose College and a Departmental Tutor at the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford.
Digital badge
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.
After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add this badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee | £190.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All short course students (online and in-person) may register to borrow from the Oxford Lifelong Learning Library, for the duration of their course.
Further information about the Oxford Lifelong Learning Library can be found on the library website.
Module code: O26P422BIW
How to enrol
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page.