Abingdon Green Gym Blog

Blog by Sally.  Photos by Adrian, Julio and Sally For the second time in a week, we went to Frilford Heath Golf Course, but this time we were working on Boundary House Fen, the larger sister to Two Pines Fen, where we had been on Tuesday.  It is another alkaline fen, which we have been helping to restore for over a decade.  It was a glorious sunny morning.  There were 13 of us and we met Rod d'Ayala, consultant ecologist on site. Rod briefs the group With only four scythers in the group, we had our work cut out for us as the main task was to continue with scything and raking the tall, rank vegetation following on from where we had left off when we were here last month.  This is essential for the emerging fen flora, such as orchids, which would otherwise be out-competed for light by the tall rush and reed.  Whilst the scythers got going, some people were asked to cut back bramble from the far edge, which borders onto the adjoining houses, and form a dead hed...

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 ...