Abingdon Green Gym Blog

Blog by Sally.  Photos by Margaret and Sally On a rather dull February day, we returned to Frilford Heath Golf Course to continue with the cut and rake of Two Pines Fen, which is a calcareous (or alkaline) fen - a very rare habitat - home to several species of orchid and other plants which prefer slightly less acidic conditions than in a 'normal' fen, including the Grass of Parnassus - this being the southernmost place in the country where it grows.  Because it is bounded by the Green and Red Courses, we can only safely work here when either is closed for maintenance or when the Golf Club can reasonably close one of the holes.  On Tuesday, it was the turn for the 4th hole on the Green Course side of the Fen to be closed.  There were nine volunteers - 7 from Green Gym, plus Dr Judy Webb, consultant ecologist, and Rich from the Lye Valley volunteers.  After parking in the Green Keepers' compound, we made our way to the Fen with the tools and, of course, the Green ...

 Blog by Eleanor, photos by Julio and David Hitchcopse Pit was a new site for us to work on. It is a former sand quarry and now is a habitat for flora and fauna that like this environment. Some of us had visited in the Summer, when it is very popular with walkers and families. It is in the Cothill area, but a long trek from where we usually park for Cothill Fen, so Adrian, our leader, had obtained permission to park at Hitchcopse Farm. From there we set off across the fields (some very waterlogged) to the site. We were very pleased to welcome two new members, Scarlet and Izaak, who brought the average age of the group down by some years! Briefing in the farm car park Walking across the fields Heading towards the dead oak Crossing the electric fence Climbing over the barbed wire First view of the area adjacent to the pit Our task was to cut back the silver birch growing on the slopes and in the pit itself and to use the cut material to make a dead hedge barrier to prevent people fro...