St Sepulchre's Cemetery

A surprising number of residents are unaware that tucked behind Walton Street and reached down a lane alongside Walton Street Bicycles is St Sepulchre's Cemetery. It is now a wonderfully peaceful green space which is currently full of bluebells; spectacular on a sunny day.

The St Sepulchre's Gardening Group did a superb job in the past, getting rid of years of litter and the forest of brambles. The original volunteer group finally retired but it has been revived and meets at 11 a.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. Councillor James Fry supplied some gardening tools for the group with Council funds. These are kept at Lucy's office in Cranham Street, but if volunteers can bring their own basic tools, such as secateurs, that would be helpful .

If you would like to come along and help with tasks such as cutting back ivy from gravestones and pruning suckers and prickly bushes, please turn up. If you would like to join the mailing list for the group, please email James at cllrjfry@oxford.gov.uk.

Update on work to Walton Well Drinking Fountain

After wonderful support from local benefactors to raise the funds needed, Cliveden Conservation, a highly regarded conservation firm which has won several Oxford Preservation Trust awards, was selected to complete the work to reinstate our local drinking water fountain.

The start has been slightly delayed because some issues with drainage were uncovered early on. But work should now begin in May, when passers-by will see many signs of progress, though the main task of recreating the entire drinking fountain will be done in Cliveden Conservation's workshops on the Cliveden Estate. It is hoped that everything will be ready in time for the peak demand in the summer, when you will be able to join the team to toast the opening ..... in drinking water of course.

While waiting for work to start the fundraising team secured permission from the County Council to install planters by the fountain and make that triangle at the junctions of Longworth, Southmoor and Walton Well Road an appropriate neighbour for the transformed drinking fountain.

Low Carbon Oxford North AGM - 12th May

Speaker: Dr Sam Hampton

“Individuals make choices which are constrained by systems, and influenced by powerful vested interests” – true or false?

Low Carbon Oxford North is holding its AGM on 12th May from 6.30pm. Dr Sam Hampton from Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute will talk about the role of individuals and communities in tackling climate change. His research explores how leading by example can make climate action more visible and aspirational, helping to shift social and cultural norms towards sustainability. There will be time for questions and discussion following the talk.

Tuesday 12 May 2026

6.30 for 6.45: AGM

7.30: Dr Sam Hampton, Q&A

Woodstock Road Baptist Church, 98 Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 7NQ
Further details using this link.

Want to explore solar power?

Two local events may interest you:

1. 18th May 2026: Sustainable Southmoor Road Group are meeting to discuss the creation of a People Owned Power Project. Any residents of Southmoor Road or Kingston Road who would like to find out more, could attend the meeting at 72 Southmoor Road at 7.30pm.

2. 20th May 2026: Makespace Oxford (1 Aristotle Lane) are screening the People Owned Power documentary about a street in Walthamstow who decided to become a solar panel power station. It is a funny engaging documentary and is being shown in conjunction with Low Carbon Oxford North at 6.30pm

Other Upcoming Events

WMRA Meet Your Neighbours - Please come and join us on Wednesday 10th June from 5.30pm at The Gardeners Arms, Plantation Road.

The biennial Oxford Canal Festival - from midday on Saturday 19th September, Aristotle Recreation Ground. Entrance is free and there will be a wonderful array of activities. There will be a music stage, a dog show, the Canal Olympics, a film tent showing films about Jericho and the Canal and special canal boats. There will also be three large marquees, one hosting the Story Museum; another, arts and crafts; and a third, a beer tent with more music. As in previous festivals, there will be a wide variety of food stalls for all tastes as well as stalls for local community organisations.

Organising the Festival is a big task for the core group of volunteers. They always welcome more people to help in the run-up to the big day, as well as on the 19th itself. If you would like to be involved in any way, please contact bill@manville.org.uk.

with all best wishes

The WMRA Committee