Cowley Marsh Recreation Ground 18 ha
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🦋 Insects
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Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 18 ha
Places › England › South East › Oxford Getting here
51.74017, -1.21768
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ 🌞 Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings ☀️ Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay 🛝 Playground on site — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site 🌤️ Visiting this summer
🌞 Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings ☀️ Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay 🛝 Playground on site — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🚲 Bike parking🅿️ Parking· Paid 🛝 Playground
🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Woodpigeon, Robin, Magpie +52 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Woodpigeon, Robin, Magpie +52 more · last seen 2026
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Marmalade Hoverfly, 7-spot Ladybird, Harlequin Ladybird +185 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Marmalade Hoverfly, 7-spot Ladybird, Harlequin Ladybird +185 more · last seen 2026
Free
🛝 Family friendly
Strong match
playground; Urban park — family destination
Free
Dogs allowed with public access
Free
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 16 signed routes nearby · 27 public paths nearby
Signed route nearby Public paths
Oxford Green Belt Way Walking route 87 km ▾
Named route Length 87 km Regional walking route
Show on map Boundary Patrol Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Sandpit Walk Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Northwood Trail Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Shakespeare's Way Walking route 235 km ▾
Named route Length 235 km Regional walking route
Show on map Barracks Lane public footpath · 95 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 95 m Surface asphalt Path type: cycleway
Show on map Barracks Lane public footpath · 51 m ▾
Public path public footpath Length 51 m Surface asphalt Path type: cycleway
Show on map 128 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
National Cycle Network Route 5 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 5 National Cycle Network
Show on map Route 8 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 8 Local cycle route
Show on map Route 8a Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 8a Local cycle route
Show on map Route 9 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 9 Local cycle route
Show on map Route 3a Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 3a Local cycle route
Show on map Route 1 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 1 Local cycle route
Show on map 9 public paths nearby
Public paths
Barracks Lane bridleway · 12 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 12 m Surface asphalt Path type: cycleway
Show on map Barracks Lane bridleway · 206 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 206 m Surface asphalt Path type: bridleway
Show on map Barracks Lane bridleway · 29 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 29 m Surface asphalt Path type: residential
Show on map Barracks Lane bridleway · 141 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 141 m Surface asphalt Path type: residential
Show on map Barracks Lane bridleway · 80 m ▾
Public path bridleway Length 80 m Surface asphalt Path type: bridleway
Show on map Photos Path through Cowley Marsh
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Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
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id: 6e9e6c21-c626-4f4a-ad40-77ccc9cb3086
UK green spaces mapped from open public data — so anyone can find the woodland, trail, or nature reserve closest to them.
© 2026 Glade · Made with care for UK green spaces
Wildlife to spot
49,206 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 49,206 records · National Biodiversity Network Robin · Woodpigeon · Magpie · Great Tit · Blue Tit +34
Robin Erithacus rubecula Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Magpie Pica pica Great Tit Parus major Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Jay Garrulus glandarius Blackbird Turdus merula Goldcrest Regulus regulus Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 House Sparrow Passer domesticus Redwing Turdus iliacus Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Mute Swan Cygnus olor Siskin Spinus spinus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis2025 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis2025 Snipe Gallinago gallinago2025 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus2025 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Nuthatch Sitta europaea Peregrine Falco peregrinus2025 Kingfisher Alcedo atthis2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo2025 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2025 Greenfinch Chloris chloris2025 Green Woodpecker Picus viridis2025 Water Vole · Hedgehog · Muntjac · Grey Squirrel
Water Vole Arvicola amphibius Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Muntjac Muntiacus reevesi Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis 🐸 Amphibians 2 species
spring
2026 ▾
Common Frog · Smooth Newt
Common Frog Rana temporaria Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris Dark-edged Bee-fly · 7-spot Ladybird · Harlequin Ladybird · Marmalade Hoverfly · Meliscaeva auricollis +37
Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombylius major 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus Meliscaeva auricollis Meliscaeva auricollis Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax Syrphus Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 49,206 records · National Biodiversity Network Robin · Woodpigeon · Magpie · Great Tit · Blue Tit +34
Robin Erithacus rubecula Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Magpie Pica pica Great Tit Parus major Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Jay Garrulus glandarius Blackbird Turdus merula Goldcrest Regulus regulus Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 House Sparrow Passer domesticus Redwing Turdus iliacus Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Mute Swan Cygnus olor Siskin Spinus spinus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis2025 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis2025 Snipe Gallinago gallinago2025 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus2025 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Nuthatch Sitta europaea Peregrine Falco peregrinus2025 Kingfisher Alcedo atthis2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo2025 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2025 Greenfinch Chloris chloris2025 Green Woodpecker Picus viridis2025 Water Vole · Hedgehog · Muntjac · Grey Squirrel
Water Vole Arvicola amphibius Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Muntjac Muntiacus reevesi Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis 🐸 Amphibians 2 species
spring
2026 ▾
Common Frog · Smooth Newt
Common Frog Rana temporaria Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris Dark-edged Bee-fly · 7-spot Ladybird · Harlequin Ladybird · Marmalade Hoverfly · Meliscaeva auricollis +37
Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombylius major 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus Meliscaeva auricollis Meliscaeva auricollis Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax Syrphus Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Syrphus
Syrphus
Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale
Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale
Eristalis tenax Eristalis tenax
Eristalis tenax Eristalis tenax
Dotted Bee-fly Bombylius discolor
Dotted Bee-fly Bombylius discolor
Melanostoma scalare Melanostoma scalare
Melanostoma scalare Melanostoma scalare
Phaonia subventa Phaonia subventa
Phaonia subventa Phaonia subventa
Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina
Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus
Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus
Eupeodes Eupeodes
Eupeodes Eupeodes
Platycheirus albimanus Platycheirus albimanus
Platycheirus albimanus Platycheirus albimanus
Agallia consobrina Agallia consobrina
Agallia consobrina Agallia consobrina
22-spot Ladybird Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata
22-spot Ladybird Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata
Platycheirus ambiguus Platycheirus ambiguus
Platycheirus ambiguus Platycheirus ambiguus
Platycheirus Platycheirus
Platycheirus Platycheirus
Rhombic Leatherbug Syromastus rhombeus
Rhombic Leatherbug Syromastus rhombeus
Forget-me-not Shieldbug Sehirus luctuosus
Forget-me-not Shieldbug Sehirus luctuosus
Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum
Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum
Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae
Birch Catkin Bug Kleidocerys resedae
Syrphus torvus Syrphus torvus
Syrphus torvus Syrphus torvus
Helina evecta Helina evecta
Helina evecta Helina evecta
Tortoise Bug Eurygaster testudinaria
Tortoise Bug Eurygaster testudinaria
Liocoris tripustulatus Liocoris tripustulatus
Liocoris tripustulatus Liocoris tripustulatus
Eristalis Eristalis
Eristalis Eristalis
Varied Carpet Beetle Anthrenus verbasci
Varied Carpet Beetle Anthrenus verbasci
Field Damsel Bug Nabis (Nabis) ferus
Field Damsel Bug Nabis (Nabis) ferus
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus
Asiraca clavicornis Asiraca clavicornis
Asiraca clavicornis Asiraca clavicornis
Pine Ladybird Exochomus quadripustulatus2025
Pine Ladybird Exochomus quadripustulatus2025
24-spot Ladybird Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata2025
24-spot Ladybird Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata2025
16-spot Ladybird Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata2025
16-spot Ladybird Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata2025
2-spot Ladybird Adalia bipunctata2025
2-spot Ladybird Adalia bipunctata2025
Small Black Ant Lasius niger2025
Small Black Ant Lasius niger2025
Cream-spot Ladybird Calvia quattuordecimguttata2025
Cream-spot Ladybird Calvia quattuordecimguttata2025
Issus coleoptratus Issus coleoptratus2025
Issus coleoptratus Issus coleoptratus2025
Idiocerus lituratus Idiocerus lituratus2025
Idiocerus lituratus Idiocerus lituratus2025
Large Willow Aphid Tuberolachnus (Tuberolachnus) salignus2025
Large Willow Aphid Tuberolachnus (Tuberolachnus) salignus2025 Events & activities nearby Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
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