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Willow Meadows is an area of wet grassland beside the Shill Brook
on the western edge of Carterton. Such areas are a priority for
conservation in Britain, and Willow Meadows is owned and maintained
by the Town Council with advice from Government Departments. The
Meadows support a range of wet grassland, swamp and marsh species
including purple moor grass, marsh arrow grass and eight different
species of sedge. Birds found there include reed bunting, bullfinches
and sedge warblers. Three species of rare ground beetle have been
recorded there. 
Although conservation is a priority, the Council is keen to encourage
responsible visitors to the site and therefore installed a car park,
and a path running the entire length of the meadow. It is now possible
to cross through the meadow and join the perimeter path around RAF
Brize Norton.
Carterton Library (tel: 01993 841492) is part of the library service
provided by Oxfordshire County Council. The library building, which
opened in 1986, is on Alvescot Road close to the town centre. It
contains a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books and a reference
section. There are also newspapers and magazines, a coin operated
photocopier, and music cassettes, CDs and DVDs for hire. There are
several Internet access points. The library is closed on Saturday
afternoons and all day on Wednesday and Sunday.
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