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Lashford Lane Fen - Saturday 29th March 2025

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 Blog by Eleanor, photos by Julio It was a bright, sunny morning, when twelve of us met in the entrance to Lashford Lane Fen, one of a group of Oxfordshire fens where we work. Interpretation board at the entrance Our instructions were to make our way to the main fen area, scythe and rake up some of the reed and cut back trees and shrubs on the far side to stop them from encroaching on the fen. Team briefing by Kevin Carrying our tools, we set off on the long walk to the fen. The ground was remarkably dry, with only one muddy patch, as there has been very little rain in March this year. At last we arrived at the fen, set up camp and made our way to the other side of the fen. The main work area (and scythe blade) There was also some work to be done, cutting back overhanging branches by the kissing gate leading to the fen. Roger and I volunteered to do that. Before After The others set to work on the fen and the trees on the other side of the runnel. it wasn't long before people were ...
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Two Pines Fen, Frilford Heath Golf Course - 21, 24, 25 and 27 March 2025

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Blog by Sally, photos by Denis, Michele and Sally Over the course of 4 weekdays, a total of 11 volunteers returned to Two Pines Fen (TPF) on Frilford Heath Golf Course to carry out the spring cut and rake, which we can only safely do during the week when there are fewer golfers about as the fen is bounded by two courses.  TPF is a calcareous fen, which occurs when spring water percolates through a layer of chalk where it picks up calcium carbonate which makes the water (and thereby the peat) slightly alkaline.  A number of plants and insects favour these conditions, but because this is such a rare habitat the flora and fauna are also similarly rare.  This particular fen is home to cotton grass, rare sedges and rushes and several species of orchid.  For once, the weather gods were on our side and we enjoyed fine weather. We dropped a lot of cut vegetation into the stream (which is acting as a ditch, draining the fen) to build up the layer of peat at the bottom.  ...
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Abraham's Wood, Boars Hill - Saturday 22nd March 2025

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Blog by Eleanor, photos by Michele, Margaret and Eleanor We met in Berkeley Road, Boars Hill for our session in Abraham's Wood. We were pleased to welcome a new volunteer who lives locally. Fortunately, the weather was dry and not too cold, though rather cloudy. We made our way down the hill and into the wood, being careful not to tread on the bluebells, which will be in full bloom in just over a month's time. The bluebells will soon be in flower The tasks were to cut back holly and laurel and to uproot holly seedlings and trailing bramble. The wood used to be part of a private garden before it was donated to the Oxford Preservation Trust and the aim is to return it to native woodland. We collected our tools and spread out, to work in various parts of the wood. Getting ready to work Into the woods Simon lopping Graham on the path Carolyn and Lesley A big heap of holly and bramble At 11 o'clock we got together for our tea break. there were some convenient logs to sit on. Tea...
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Southern Town Park, Abingdon - Saturday 15th March 2025

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 Blog by Eleanor, photos by Julio, Michele and Eleanor This was our twice yearly visit, once in Autumn and once in Spring, to Southern Town Park, where we have a wild flower patch. It was also the day of the Science Fair in the market place and, as some of our volunteers were helping with that, it was good to have twelve of us turning out for the Green Gym session. We met in the Youth Football Club car park in Lambrick Way, which was packed with vehicles as there was a big tournament going on, and made our way around the pitches to our site at the far end of the park. The weather was quite sunny, though with a brisk, chilly wind. We were joined by one new volunteer, and as we started work, a passer by stopped and said he would like to join us at a future session, which was very encouraging. Our tasks were to plant primrose plugs and violets at the front around the sign and to dig patches to sow annual seeds. We had cornfield mixtures plus borage, centaury and fumitory. The site wit...
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