Port MEadow Inspection 2019

Author: Chris Butterfield

2018 saw the hottest summer of the century, so it was not surprising that the Sheriff’s inspection of the Meadow should have been in fine weather. 2019 has seen the most miserable summer weather of recent years, so we had to be thankful that Midsummer’s Day coincided with the arrival of a spell of fine weather.

Councillor Steve Goddard led the inspection as the Sheriff for the year, and said the Meadow was of particular interest to him both as a resident of Wolvercote and as councillor for that ward. He was accompanied by the Lord Mayor Craig Simmons, who had missed the inspection in 2018 when he was Sheriff; the Lord Mayor of the year Colin Cook took his place then. Unfortunately Julian Cooper the Port Meadow Ranger was unable to be present. A number of Freemen completed the party.

The first stop was at the World War I memorial, to check the signage was still in place – and seeing the notice erected to publicise the horrific death of a horse following a vicious dog attack.

Then the party moved on for the most important part of the inspection, which was to examine the fencing erected on the opposite bank of the river. The fencing is designed to overcome the problem of cattle on the Meadow deciding that the grass is greener on the other side of the river, fording the water and in effect trespassing on the farm opposite. It is not possible to erect fencing or any other structure on the Meadow without consent from the Secretary of State, as the Meadow is common land. A ready solution would be to dredge the river at this point, to make the water too deep to ford. But the Environment Agency has declined to do this work despite countless requests.

The fencing was still in place, but it was understood that the farmer has complained about cattle from the Meadow still getting across to his land. Where the fencing ends in the direction of Oxford there is a steep bank that cattle could not possibly climb. But a little further downstream the bank slopes and looked to have been trampled away. This could be how the trespassers are gaining entry to the farm.

Although some graziers have certainly kept their cattle off the Meadow because they make their way across the river, leaving those graziers with the task of retrieving them, it was nevertheless good to see a goodly number of beasts in attendance.

At this point the Sheriff decided to start the return walk. But he chose to go in a wide arc, visiting Shiplake Ditch, the boundary stones marking the limit of his council ward, and the concrete shelter left from World War I, when it was put up for airmen to try their target practice.

Back at the car park the party separated to make their way to the Plough, the Mayor and Sheriff sharing the mayoral Mini. It had been expected that they would both arrive by bike but one of them had to be collected from the station beforehand. However, the Sheriff did make amends by wearing a shirt decorated with countless images of too many bicycles to count.

Chris Cox will provide his usual account of the Aunt Sally match that finished off the proceedings. But credit must be given to the Sheriff’s team: assembled on the night and very much finding their feet during the first leg, they pulled up their score well on the second, and although losing the third, they had the distinction of seven players in succession all scoring. Everyone enjoyed the occasion, not least the winner of the Sheriff’s shield, who was roped in at very short notice and needed a crash course in how to play.