Hinksey Heights Nature Trail - 20th April 2024

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 Blog by Eleanor, photos by Sally

There was plenty of work to do on the Hinksey Heights Nature Trail, though, sadly, only eight Green Gymmers were able to come. We met in the car park in chilly, but sunny weather and set off along the track with the tools loaded into the wheelbarrow.

We set up base by the pond, and Sally took us on a recce along the trail. We were glad to see that the pond has a fence now and a notice asking walkers to keep dogs under control, as dogs running into the water can contaminate it with flea powder, which can kill aquatic life.

The tasks were to cut back bramble from the edge of the trail, to scythe rushes by the pond, avoiding any orchids and twayblades, to scythe in the dell, avoiding woolly thistle and to pull up grass around the young trees.

As we set to work, some Hinksey Heights volunteers arrived to continue working on the board walk, which will make the trail passable in muddy conditions.

We worked hard until tea break time and we appreciated having a picnic table to sit at and enjoy the sunshine. All too soon it was time to get back to work, with plenty to rake up and put on habitat piles, before loading up our tools and setting off back to the car park. 


View of the trail and pond




 
Cutting bramble




Tea break




Susan scything in the dell




Margaret and Susan cutting and raking




Carolyn and Graham weeding around young trees



The dell with young trees

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