THE new Sheriff of Oxford, Susan Brown, made some new feathered and furry friends during her official visit to Port Meadow.

The annual inspection by the sheriff, which took place this year at 6pm on Friday, is a long-standing tradition in the city.

Ms Brown and other other city councillors enjoyed watching some of the geese stroll across the fields, and even made friends with a few of the wild ponies that graze there. They finished the trip with a game of Aunt Sally at the pub.

The meadow, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book, is owned by the city council and only Freeman of Oxford and Wolvercote Commoners have the right to graze livestock on it.

Known as Oxford's oldest monument, the landscape of Port Meadow has changed very little since prehistoric times.

Port Meadow is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Scheduled Ancient Monument but members of the public are allowed unrestricted access onto the site.