A little bit About Us…
We started in 2009 as Transition Chipping Norton – a community initiative to help local people transition away from fossil fuels and towards a more sustainable way of living. Some of our early projects involved setting up the Chipping Norton Community Orchard, campaigning for better cycling provision and a community allotment.
Fast forward to 2023, we constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation to better meet the needs of our community. We are still part of the worldwide Transition Network, but in 2025 we rebranded as Sustainable Chipping Norton, in line with many other Transition Groups.
We are also part of Community Action Groups Oxfordshire, a network of over 50 Oxfordshire groups at the forefront of community led climate change action, organising events and projects to take action on issues including waste, transport, food, energy and biodiversity. The network runs over 1,000 events per year, attended by over 60,000 local residents.
Our Most recent impacts
Take a look through our recent Impact Reports which capture how these projects have strengthened resilience, enhanced the environment and connected people.
2025 Age-Friendly Award winner
Youth work and connected communities continues to be at the heart of our ethos, and we were delighted to win an award from Incommon for our Intergenerational Youth Social Action in April 2025.
Many thanks to the team at WODC who brought so many organisations together yesterday for another uplifting Health and Wellbeing Alliance.
It was wonderful to hear inspiring speakers such as Catriona Bass from the Thames Valley Wildflower Meadow Restoration Project, Isaac Woolley from GamCare, James Voller from Age UK Oxfordshire, and meet up with others working on projects locally.
By learning more about what other groups are seeking to achieve we can help connect people up to a whole range of different initiatives, improve our understanding of what is possible, what is needed, and be more able to live our best lives.
The Alliance is just one of the initiatives that goes above and beyond the standard Council remit, to work towards West Oxfordshire being a beautiful place to live for everyone here.
https://westoxon.gov.uk/communities-and-leisure/…
At the Mental Health Summit WODC championed in July we suggested creating a directory of all the support and activities available locally.
WODC put the work in, and have created this brilliant guide to Mental Health Services in West Oxfordshire available on the link above. Please do have a read and share with anyone who might find it interesting or helpful.
Many of the groups listed are community activities, including some of ours.
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So exciting to see Chipping Norton Lido embracing the change of seasons by opening for cold water swimmers for the first time this year. With the option of a warming sauna too, it is great to have new ways to connect with people locally.
For more info and to book check out their webpage:
https://chippingnortonlido.savoysystems.co.uk/Chip…
We've been really pleased to be invited to help landscape part of the grounds, adding opportunities for more varied wildlife to take up residence and improve the wellbeing of all…
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If you know of any teens or tweens who might like to get creative this half term, please let them know about this event that we are running – planned and supported by local teenagers, local volunteers and WODC nature recovery and healthy spaces team.
For any young people who have opinions about how their local area could be improved this is an ideal time to have their voices heard.
There is no cost, and being outside at the park young people are free to come and go as they please – drop in any time.
For more info message us on 07517 144828Join us on Thursday in half term – from lunchtime.
Please help spread the word…
We will be cooking pumpkin GHOULash, cheese toasties, and bringing various things for painting and crafts.
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Thank you Ditchley Park, the Cotswold Hedgelaying Foundation and HDH Wills Trust for such an interesting morning on Saturday – 9 of us joined together to watch the Hedgelaying Competitionhttps://photos.fife.usercontent.google.com/….
It was inspiring to see so many skilled craftsmen and women of all ages and levels of experience taking care to create a thriving and functional hedge.
During the morning they turned a stretch of planted hedge into a beautifully laid wildlife corridor, designed to keep cattle one side and arable crops on the other.
We learned this is traditional "Midlands Style", where the pleaching cuts are on one side, kept free from branches, and the brash goes on the other to create an additional barrier for any cows thinking of pushing their way through.
The whole structure is strengthened by being woven between vertical hazel posts, and the top gets beautifully woven with withies, maintaining a tight structure and hopefully protecting from deer damage.
It was great to have conversations with so many enthusiastic hedgelayers, and to hear of their experiences in other parts of the country.
Displays from Wild Oxfordshire and the Centre for Hydrology and Ecology told us a lot more about the wildlife impacts of different forms of hedgerow management.
We could also see how last year's hedge has developed, and are grateful to Sarah from HDH Wills for her explanations about how Ditchley Park Estate is being managed on a 10 year plan.
All in all an enjoyable and informative day.
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Join us this Wednesday (22nd Oct) for more crafts and conversations at Willow Gardens – we'll be there 2 – 4, bring a project to work on, share ideas or come and learn something new.
If you're interested in making hats for Ukraine please come along and find out more. Patient teaching from scratch is on hand should you wish.
Please walk or catch the bus if you can – if driving please don't park in the residents' car park!
Get in touch for more details – 07517 144828.
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Thanks to those who joined us on walks last week – the hedgerows are bursting with fruit, and the changing leaf colours a real feast for the eyes, making up for some settled dull grey weather!
It is all change next week, with rain and thunderstorms coming in – perfect for turning some hedgerow harvest into fruit leathers, jellies, jams and syrups.
Join us on Whatsapp to hear about walks in advance, or share recipe ideas – 07517 144828
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