Abingdon Green Gym Blog

Blog by Sally.  Photos by Michele and Sally After an 8-year gap, we were asked to return to Stonehill House on 5th September to clear the footpath that connects Stonehill Lane with Peep-o-Day Lane and Southern Town Park, as it had got overgrown with nettles and there were some small trees and low overgrowing branches to be cleared. Adrian was our leader for the session and 16 Green Gymmers turned out on a fine, sunny morning.  We'd been given instructions to park in a field next to the House and the Community Garden, where Adrian briefed the group on our tasks. Adrian briefs the group Setting up our base and assessing what needs to be done Helen makes a start lopping overhanging branches Roger digging up young poplars which were sprouting in the footpath as others work on both sides of the path, clearing fallen branches and cutting back overhanging ones Jim scything nettles Graham and Carolyn clearing branches, some of which would be used to form habitat piles Adrian using the...

Blog by Eleanor - Photos by Julio This was our annual hay raking and stacking session in Barton Fields. The wildflower meadow had been cut by machine on Wednesday, and David and the Abingdon Naturalists Green Team had raking sessions on the Thursday and Friday, but not many people were available, so on Saturday it was Green Gym to the rescue! Wildflower meadows thrive on poor soil. If the soil is too rich, grass dominates and out competes the wildflowers. At the end of August, when the flowers have shed their seeds, the meadow needs to be cut and the cut material raked off as soon as possible, otherwise too many nutrients go into the soil. The task looked really daunting and the weather was not promising, dull and rather drizzly, but not the heavy downpours we had feared. Fifteen Green Gymmers turned up, led by Barbara and Dieuwke, plus some Green Team volunteers. Arriving on site Busy in the field We set to work, piling the cut vegetation on to drag sheets or pitchforking it on to hea...