Page 7 - Oxford Preservation Trust Newsletter, Winter 2020

Oxford is growing. Its growth may be guided but should not be grudged. The work of the Trust is
not to hamper Oxford but to help it… Oxford is not a museum piece. It is a living thing.

OPT First Annual report (1927)

t is hard to put a price on the city’s green setting,
Ilandscape and views and once lost they are gone
forever, so that when William Morris opened his car
factory in 1927 and the City expanded, OPT was
founded and began to acquire land. We now have
1000 acres of green open space either owned or
protected by legal covenants and Oxford’s setting lies at
the heart of our regular planning work. Our protected
green places have never been more crucial as plans
come forward which will see green fields developed
for housing around the edge of the city, regardless of
its Green Belt status, and in places which would have been
quite unthinkable a few years ago. We are actively looking
to engage with developers and the authorities to see what
role OPT can play in balancing the need for bricks and
mortar, with good access to countryside and a healthy
environment, and where our family of barn owls at OPTs
Heyford Meadow can also thrive.

xford’s uncrowded streets have provided some wonderful images
Oover lockdown as well as giving time to reflect on how the city’
streets and spaces could be used differently. A resurgence of interest in
the plans for Broad Street (2004) has seen us beginning to work with
partners across the city to see what can be achieved (See K Wilkie lecture).

Oxford Castle and Prison was 'Good to Go'

and had welcomed over 7,500 visitors before this second
lockdown, with its guided tours, education workshops, and
outside events including the Shakespeare Monologues. We Newsletter Winter 2020
hope it won’t be too long until it reopens, and meanwhile are
using the time wisely to carry out repairs to St. George’s Tower.

With advice changing all the time do visit our website for the
latest developments. We will be providing regular updates to you but if you want to contact us we are
always available in office hours on info@oxfordpreservation.org.uk or 01865 242918.

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