About Us
The Iffley Fields NaturEscape project is led by local residents working in partnership with Oxford City Council. We're parents, neighbours, and community members who share a vision for a thriving natural play space in our neighborhood.
Our Story
The idea for the NaturEscape began in early 2024, when a group of playground users started discussing how the space could better serve our community and support local wildlife. Inspired by natural play spaces elsewhere in Oxford, particularly the Florence Park naturescape, we approached Oxford City Council with our ideas.
With encouragement from Chris Bell, the Council Parks Officer, we formed a project group and began gathering community input. By autumn 2024, we had developed a concept brief based on community feedback, and engaged landscape designer Laura Burt to help create a coherent design that would bring our vision to life.
Following this initial concept design we are going to take on board all the feedback from the community and put forward funding proposals to transform our refined vision into reality. We would love you to get involved and help us transform this space into a NaturEscape that nurtures both children and nature!
Meet the Team
Usha
I grew up in Iffley Fields and have always felt that our neighbourhood has the potential to be so much more for families and nature! In 2024 I joined The Nature Effect as a Director supporting community projects that enable people of all backgrounds and generations to access and engage with wild spaces. My professional background is in nature conservation and sustainable food systems. I am super excited to be involved in this project and continue to drive it forward!
Tom
Tom is a professional trombonist, composer and arranger whose interests include trail running and anything to do with the outdoors. He has lived in Iffley Fields with his family for almost 10 years, is a member of the IFRA committee and is passionate about anything that makes the local area an even more fantastic place to live.
Brittany
I moved to Oxford in 2022—my third time living in the UK—after relocating from San Francisco. Our family settled in Iffley Fields and quickly fell in love with the area and community, so much so that we bought a house here last year! My two boys are out our back gate and into the Ayot and playground almost daily, and we feel incredibly grateful to have access to such a lovely little corner of the world. We look forward to being good stewards of it.
Our Partners
Iffley Fields Residents Association (IFRA)
IFRA was set up in 1997 and covers an area in East Oxford between the Iffley Road and the River Thames including: Argyle Street, Bedford Street, Chester Street, Daubeny Road, Eyot Place, Fairacres Road, Greyfriars Court, Jackdaw Lane, Parker Street, Stratford Street and Warwick Street. Our community-led organisation welcomes people from diverse backgrounds and cultures and aims to encourage a community spirit. In our area we have amazing community assets that can be enjoyed by a much wider community: access to the river, the nature reserves, the recreation ground and the children's playground. We work with local authorities and other stakeholders to improve these. IFRA is made up of several subgroups who focus on individual initiatives and projects that aim to improve the local area for nature and all users, and to bring together people with shared interests.
The Nature Effect (TNE)
The Nature Effect is a catalyst for the transformation of people, spaces and communities through connection to nature. We are inspired by the ‘ spirit of place’, the beauty of plants, rocks, and wildlife, and human potential now and in the future. We work with educators, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, gardeners, public and charity sectors. Our ongoing conversation is how working with and for Nature engages and shapes individuals, organisations and communities. We are a nor-for-profit Community Interest Company; ploughing any profits directly back into community projects.
Laura Burt
Wildscape Designer for the Iffley Fields NaturEscape
Annie Davy
Project Consultant for the Iffley Fields NaturEscape