Abingdon Green Gym Blog

Blog by Sally.  Photos by Julio and Sally We returned to Manor Farm in March on Saturday, 18th July for our second official session to pull Himalayan Balsam from near the Blackwater Stream.  We assembled in the farmyard and made our way with our waders plus a few tools, just in case, to our usual spot for base camp by the bench near the path. Our mission was simple:  to seek and destroy as many Himalayan Balsam plants as we could find.  We split into different groups to finish working in the areas where we had stopped a couple of weeks previously.  Although some of the Balsam plants were forming seed pods, they weren't ripe enough to pop when we pulled the plants off.  It was encouraging to note that we weren't therefore spreading any seeds as we worked. This marks our wayfaring point for where we work along the Blackwater Stream Sally briefs the group Carol, Dieuwke and Graham hard at work David and Rhian tackling the Himalayan Balsam Possible male banded ...

  This session saw one of our rare visits to the Tesco end of the Ock Path, reminding us that we are still ABINGDON Green Gym. There were twelve volunteers, including a newcomer, Chris, who had cycled all the way from Kennington.  Our main task was to pull up Himalayan Balsam, but, as usual in this area, there was plenty of litter to be picked up as well. Most of the balsam was by the path leading West to New Cut Mill, and that's where most of the group went, either into the woods on the left or into the ditch on the right, while Adrian went into the river to the bit by the small weir, fenced off by the Environment Agency, where the balsam is hard to get at, and where some people enjoy the challenge of throwing their cans and bottles, to preserve them for future generations. On the hunt for Himalayan Balsam and litter Dieuwke and newcomer Chris Joan Susan and Rhian I had spotted a smaller patch of balsam  at the other end of the path, just before the Ock Meadow.  It ...

Blog by Sally.  Photos by Julio, Roger and Sally  On Saturday, 4 July, we (that is 14 Green Gymmers) returned to Manor Farm in Marcham for the first of two Himalayan Balsam pulling sessions in July.  Permission had been given for us to park in the farmyard car park and, after gathering up the few tools we needed, we made our way along the lane.  Having done a recce of the area the previous weekend, the Green Gymmers had been advised to wear long sleeved tops as the nettles, thistles and brambles had grown very tall. Although we could see some Himalayan Balsam growing along and in the ditch by the side of the road, we continued onto the farm itself as access is restricted in this area.  We set up our base in the usual spot, taking advantage of a bench situated near the stream overlooking a field of hazy blue.  The field had been planted with a legume mix, which included flax (the blue flowers), buckwheat (white flowers), vetch and red clover.  The roots...