Aston Pottery
Aston Pottery was founded in 1990 by Jane and Stephen Baughan with the desire to design and produce a range of kitchen, gift and tableware.
Stephen and Jane have been living in Aston for many years and their passion for the local countryside and contemporary design has helped to inspire them. Today they employ 25 people producing over 120 different patterns on 45 different shapes from delicate teapots, cups, saucers and plates to mighty 7 pint jugs and plant holders, which they ship all over the world. 
The Working Pottery
Aston Pottery has a complex of four period farm buildings, which have been extensively renovated to house the whole production process from concept to completion on-site. For the manufacture of the ware they employ traditional methods of slip-casting, jiggering and jollying. They also use traditional industrial processes to manufacture the shapes combined with their own stencilling techniques developed to decorate the ceramic surface. The pieces are then glazed using modern materials to make them microwave and dishwasher proof. 
New Developments
A new extension has just opened and now provides an additional showroom, toilet facilities, staff rooms and a large cafe. Education School visits can be arranged to cover several aspects of the curriculum including art, technology, science and history. 
Opening times are:
Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm. Open 7 days a week. Late night opening Thursday until 8pm during November and December Sunday and Bank Holidays 10.30am- 4.30pm Christmas Day, Boxing day and Easter Sunday Closed For more information visit The Aston Pottery website |
Chimney Meadows Nature Reserve
Chimney Meadows is the largest nature reserve of the BBOWT (Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust) . The site totals 250 hectares of wildlife rich land along the banks of the River Thames. This vast and tranquil area of fields, pastures and nationally acclaimed wildflower meadows is a vital refuge for wading birds.
The reserve is of national importance for its species-rich wetland meadows that support large numbers of now scarce ground-nesting birds, and provides a haven for curlew, snipe and reed bunting. 
The smaller south-western section of Chimney Meadows is a National Nature Reserve, owned by English Nature and managed by BBOWT since 1999. Only 1,500 ha of this type of floodplain meadow survives in the UK. Vistas of elegant plants including meadow foxtail, adder’s-tongue fern and green-winged orchid, along with butterflies and birds can be enjoyed from the raised Thames National Trail path that runs alongside.
The larger section of Chimney Meadows (200 ha, with some public access), is owned by BOWT. The area comprises old hay meadows, wet grassland and woodland, ancient water meadows and ex-arable land under reversion to flower-rich meadows. The fields are steeped in history, with findings of Roman pottery, an extensive Anglo-Saxon burial ground and relics of medieval ‘ridge and furrow’ ploughing. Threaded through with 14 km of old waterways and 17 km of hedgerows, the reserve also has a number of ponds and patches of scrub. 
Future Plans
Plans are afoot to create a series of ponds and wading bird scrapes through late summer into early autumn. Additionally, the creation of small water channels will allow water to move down to the newly developing wetland area in front of the large hide and will hopefully entice more wading birds like little egrets. Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust website How to find Chimney Meadows: 9 miles west of Abingdon on the Buckland to Bampton road. Follow signage to Chimney hamlet. Park at entrance to the reserve in designated car park only. 
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