Abingdon Green Gym Blog

A return to Cothill and the conditions were somewhat milder than on our last visit here!  Upon arrival, we met with Judy Webb from Natural England and transported our tools down the path to the site before receiving instructions on the morning's activities.  A new gate had been fitted at the entrance making site access somewhat easier than previously. The tasks were a continuation of our previous work at the fen - raking up cut reeds and stacking them into piles and cutting and removing trees from the perimeter of the site that have begun to encroach upon the wetland.  In addition there were some new sprouts from the cut trees to attend to - all necessary work to maintain this rare habitat. While we were busy raking, cutting and stacking, Judy set about recording species around the site and conducting her survey work.  A number of plants and insects were noted and we were careful to work around the spots where the rarest and most unique of these were present. F...

A happy return to Abbey Fishponds with a big turnout! It was a beautiful morning with bright sunshine although cool.  Kevin was leading, with directions from site warden, Marjorie. Tasks included laying woodchips on paths, cutting and slashing parables, planting and weeding, cutting and stacking wood, and litter picking.  Also it was sad for us that it was Erin Hill ’ s last day with us. She has been a great volunteer but has now completed this part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award.  -Barry In addition, the Green Gym Team (the Loppers and Slashers), with brains refreshed by the morning's work in the open air, won the Friends of the Museum annual fundraising quiz in the evening. -Eleanor Now that’s definitely ready for some planting... What’s this fungus up to? The fungus made the tree unsafe and it had to be cut down. James cutting and stacking the remains of the tree. Rihanna and Erin, our Duke of Edinburgh volunteers, laying a chipp...

This week  eleven of us  met up at Wood haven, Frilford  Heath, a lovely privately owned woodland  managed by Natural England. The weather was sunny and warm. Our tasks were to  clear the fallen branches on the ground and remove  any   branches  overhanging  the paths .   The wood was  then  stacked  into piles  to  act as  habitats  for various woodland creatures . Our other  task was  to   begin removing  the invasive Himalayan  Balsam  plants .  There were hundreds of small seedlings covering the ground ,  and we will return later in  the season to carry on with this  task.  The aim is to pull up the HB before the flowers turn to seed, explode, and popu late even more of the woodland, thus preventing ou r native species of flowers and fauna  to survive .   -Lesley The group at arriving at base camp Margaret with som...