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Culworth christmas shopping trail: A Celebration of Local Creativity and Festive Spirit
The village of Culworth is set to sparkle this festive season as it hosts the Culworth Christmas Shopping Trail — a day dedicated to local shopping, creativity, and community cheer. With free admission and parking, visitors can wander through the picturesque village and discover over 40 indoor stalls, open studios, and homes, each offering something unique.
From contemporary artwork to handcrafted gifts, the trail showcases the talent and imagination of local artists and makers. Among the highlights is a pop-up shop in the village church, hosted by Church Lane Gallery, Banbury, where award-winning poet Jen Feroze will be creating bespoke, spontaneous poetry for visitors — a truly special keepsake.
Adding to the day’s creative flair, Culworth’s blacksmith, Martin Rowling, and local whittler Luke Bailey will be giving live demonstrations of their traditional crafts, offering a glimpse into skills that blend heritage and artistry.
No festive event would be complete without delicious food and seasonal treats, and the Culworth trail promises plenty of both. Families can also enjoy a range of children’s activities, including a mini workshop, their very own Trail, and even a chance to post letters to Santa at his special letterbox.
The Culworth Christmas Shopping Trail is more than a shopping experience — it’s a celebration of community, craftsmanship, and Christmas magic. Whether you’re searching for unique gifts, creative inspiration, or simply a joyful day out, Culworth is the place to be this festive season.
Tilbrook Farm Lights Up the Villages for Christmas Cheer
Tilbrook Farm is once again inviting the community to come together and celebrate the festive season with its much-loved Annual Christmas Vehicle Run, taking place on Sunday 14th December.
What began as a small local event has quickly become a highlight of the Christmas calendar, drawing crowds from across multiple villages to watch a spectacular convoy of tractors, farm vehicles, lorries, trucks and more, all decked out in dazzling lights and decorations. This joyful procession sets off from Woodford Halse Football Club, NN11 3QS, winding its way through neighbouring villages and spreading festive spirit along the way.
The celebrations begin earlier in the afternoon with the Tractor Toddle, a miniature vehicle run designed especially for children. Young participants are invited to decorate their bikes, toy tractors, and buggies for a fun-filled festive parade, starting from Woodford Halse Garage at 3:30pm. It’s the perfect way to get little ones involved and kick off the day’s festivities.
From 5:00pm, attention turns to the main event at Woodford Halse Football Club, where spectators can enjoy warming food and refreshments served by Nancy’s Cookhouse before the illuminated convoy rolls out.
This year’s event carries a special purpose, as Tilbrook Farm’s Christmas Vehicle Run raises funds for three very worthy causes: The Brain Tumour Charity, St Lawrence Primary School, and Chipping Warden Kindergarten Forest School.
Entry fees are £5 per child for the Tractor Toddle and £10 per vehicle for those taking part in the main run. A festive raffle, organised by Chipping Warden Kindergarten, will also offer the chance to win some fantastic prizes — all while supporting the fundraising effort.
As the organisers put it, this year’s event aims to be “the best one yet” — a true celebration of community spirit, charity, and Christmas cheer. So, wrap up warm, bring your festive glow, and join Tilbrook Farm and friends as they light up the skies this December.
Follow Tilbrook Farm Christmas Vehicle Run on Facebook, or to participate please contact Vicki Taylor on 07768 623888 or email sladelaysfarm@aol.com.
What's On - December
Thursday 4th December - 4pm-7pm - Charity Christmas Art Fair & Art Exhibition - Egerton Hall, Brackley
Friday 5th December - 8.30pm - Live Music with Unnecessary Umlauts - Hollybush, Priors Marston
Saturday 6th December - 12pm-3pm - Christmas Fayre - Mollington Village Hall
Sunday 7th December - 12.30pm-3.30pm - Felted Alpaca Bauble Workshop - Hideaway Wood Farm, Dodford - booking required
Sunday 7th December - 6pm - Brackley Christmas Tractor Run
Friday 12th December - 6pm - Charity Christmas Jumper Party - Castle Edgehill
Friday 12th December - 4.30pm-6pm - Hot Chocolate & Kids Crafts - Hinton Methodist Church, Woodford Halse
Friday 12th December - 6pm - Candle Lit Procession - Hinton Methodist Church - St Mary’s Church, Woodford Halse
Friday 12th December - 6.30pm - Christmas lights switch on - St Mary’s Church, Woodford Halse
Friday 12th December - Christmas Jumper Competition - Red Lion Hellidon
Saturday 13th December - 3pm-5pm - Meet Santa - Red Lion Hellidon - £10pp donation to Let’s Play Project
Saturday 13th December - Banbury Christmas Tractor Run - Raising money for Katharine House Hospice
Saturday 13th December - 10am-3pm - Santa’s Grotto - Woodford Halse Library - £5 per child - booking required
Saturday 13th December - 10am-3pm - Christmas Craft Fayre - Dryden Hall, Woodford Halse
Sunday 14th December - Festive Family Farm Day - Hideaway Wood Farm, Dodford - book your time slot
Sunday 14th December - 4.30pm - Christmas Carol Service - St Mary’s Church, Woodford Halse
Sunday 14th December - 5pm - Tilbrook Farm Christmas Vehicle Run - Woodford Halse Football Club
Sunday 14th December - 7pm - Christmas Quiz - Red Lion Hellidon - £13pp
Monday 15th December - 8pm - Festive Quiz - The Bell Inn at Ladbroke
Friday 19th December - Christmas Jumper Day - New Inn, Middleton Cheney
Saturday 20th December - 9am-10.30am - Breakfast with Santa - Castle Edgehill - Booking required
Saturday 20th December - 2pm-5pm - Christmas Disco - Woodford Halse Social Club - Members FREE - £2.50 Non-Members - under 18's FREE - Meet Santa £5 per child
Saturday 20th December - 6pm - Southam Christmas Tractor Run - Dallas Burston Polo Ground
Saturday 20th December - 6.30pm-11pm - Boozy Bingo - Mulberry Cafe, Cropredy - £10 per ticket - over 18's
Saturday 20th December - 1pm-3pm - Festive Crafting - Hideaway Wood Farm, Dodford - booking required
Saturday 20th December - 8.30pm - Live music with The Marstones - Hollybush, Priors Marston
Sunday 21st December - 4.30pm - Christmas Carol Service - St Peter’s Church, Hanwell Village
Sunday 21st December - 1pm-3.30pm - Visit Father Christmas - Barn Farm Plants, Wardington
Monday 22nd December - 7pm - Christmas Quiz Night - Hollybush, Priors Marston
Monday 22nd December - Dinner & Showtime - Karin Bello is Tina Turner - The Yew Tree Avon Dassett - £50 per person - 3 course meal, bubbly and an evening of Tina Turner
Christmas Day Drinks
Thursday 25th December
The Cross Tree, Byfield - 11.30am - 1.30pm
Three Conies, Thorpe Mandeville - 11am-2pm
Red Lion, Hellidon - 11.30am-1pm
The Bell Inn, Ladbroke - 11am-5pm
Brasenose Arms, Cropredy - 12pm-7.30pm
Hare & Hounds, Wardington - 12pm-2pm
George & Dragon, Chacombe - 12pm-2pm
New Inn, Middleton Cheney - 11.30am-2pm
New Years Eve
Wednesday 31st December - 6pm - Apres Ski New Years Eve Party - Castle Edgehill - £10 per person entry & cocktail - under 18 FREE
Wednesday 31st December - New Years Eve Dinner - Red Lion Hellidon - pre booking only
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Saving Oxfordshire’s Curlews: A Call Echoing Across the Meadows
Few sounds capture the spirit of the British countryside quite like the haunting call of the Curlew. For generations, this much-loved bird has inspired artists, poets, farmers, and nature-lovers alike. Yet today, the Curlew’s evocative cry is fading from our landscape. In just two decades, the UK has lost half of its breeding population, placing this iconic species among our most threatened ground-nesting birds.
Here in Oxfordshire, we hold a special responsibility for their future. Our county supports around 10% of the UK’s remaining lowland Curlews—a significant proportion of a declining population. Their loss has been driven by a combination of pressures: the disappearance of wetlands and meadows, intensive grassland management, predation by foxes and crows, and the impact of development and infrastructure.
Over the past five years, Wild Oxfordshire has worked alongside a powerful network of conservation charities, dedicated volunteers, and supportive farmers to turn the tide. Together, we’ve protected 110 Curlew nests using temporary electric fencing, achieving a 74% hatching success rate—a remarkable improvement on the national average of just 25%. Thanks to these efforts, 61 young Curlews have fledged from Oxfordshire’s meadows.
None of this would be possible without the generous support of Natural England, and the tireless commitment of volunteers, farmers, and conservation partners who continue to give their time and energy to protecting Oxfordshire’s Curlews.
The Curlew’s call has echoed across our meadows for centuries. With continued effort and collaboration, we can ensure it continues to be heard for generations to come.
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