NATURE lovers are invited to join a guided walk through Oxford's "ecological heritage" in Headington next week.

Dr Judy Webb, chairwoman of the Friends of Lye Valley, that lead a walk which will show visitors "one of the county's most important sites for plants".

Visitors are invited to meet at the Slade entrance to the Lye Valley on Wednesday, July 6, at 4pm, while the rare flowers of the fen are at their loveliest.

The nature reserve has made the headlines recently after the friends group opposed two planning applications to build homes on its periphery.

Dr Webb said: "The Lye Valley is fed by lime-rich springs along the valley walls, making it technically a calcareous fen.

"It is home to many unusual plants that are adapted to this environment, including the marsh helleborine, an orchid which flourishes here, and grass of Parnassus, a very rare species in this part of the UK.

"It is also abundant in unusual insects including the brown hairstreak butterfly and glow-worms, birds such as the reed warbler, reptiles, foxes, badgers and occasional deer. "The importance of this area has led to the designation of two Sites of Special Scientific Interest, the North and South Fens, meaning it is supposed to be protected by national legislation."

Spaces on the walk will be limited owing to the site's fragility so anyone interested is urged to book a place by ringing Dr Webb on 07968 395243.