Water Testing, Cothill Fen and Parsonage Moor, 30th January 2017

By Andrew -
In addition to our winter programme, Abingdon Green Gym was invited to participate in water testing sessions at one of our regular work sites - Cothill Fen, and neighbouring Parsonage Moor.  A number of groups were involved in this operation including Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), Natural England, Freshwater Habitats Trust and local volunteer groups including Friends of Cothill Fen and ourselves. 

 Four Green Gymmers (Eleanor, Sally, Adrian and Andrew) attended on a Monday, although the project was set to continue into the Tuesday, under the guidance of Dr Curt Lamberth - an ecological consultant who set up a testing facility on site to analyse samples gathered nearby.

 The purpose of the testing was to analyse surface and groundwater right across the extent of the fenland, to map nutrient flows into, across and away from the site.  Considerable levels of  dissolved nutrients, most crucially nitrates and phosphates, have been observed in recent times, and these in particular can adversely affect the ecology of this locally rare habit.  There is considerable interest therefore in identifying the sources of these nutrients and better understanding water flows so that a plan to protect the fen can be developed.

 We assembled at 10am and received instruction on how to conduct the sampling.  We divided into pairs or small groups, and were allocated sections of the site in which we were gather samples.  A sample pack was given to each of the groups - each consisting of five numbered sample bottles, syringes (to gather the water samples before decanting to the bottles), a hand-held GPS receiver (in order to accurately record the location of each sample on the British National grid), a record sheet and pen, a map of the site and a ruler/tape measure (to record the water depth where the samples were taken from).  

 After everyone was clear on what was required, we set off in different directions according to which sections of site we had been assigned to.  Samples were gathered, logged with some additional information including type of water - pond, puddle etc that they were gathered from, time of day and then returned to the base.  Dr Curt then began to analyse the samples in order to build up a database and ultimately a map of the 'critical' areas of nutrient build-up. 
-Andrew
Instructions are issued at the beginning of Monday's session.

Looking across Parsonage Moor towards Cothill Fen.

Dr Curt Lamberth indicates where samples are to be taken on the site map.

One of the teams prepares to commence sampling!

The 'base camp'.

The samples that have been acquired are marked on the map as the session progresses.
One of the site's colourful snails.

Many interesting sights are to be found within the fen habitat.

Sample testing in progress.

Some of the dense woodland bordering the fen.

A sample being taken at one of the pond locations.

Turkeytail fungus spotted on a tree.

In, out and pop the kettle on!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pinkhill Meadow Nature Reserve, Farmoor Reservoir, 16th March 2019

By Andrew -
Image
Another week, another new site for the Abingdon Green Gym! We met at the car park at Farmoor Reservoir, a healthy turn out of 17 of us, including French father Sebastien, and his eleven-year old son, Maelo, who was joining us for a school project. The session was led by James under the instruction of Hanna Jenkins, the warden of Pinkhill Meadow Nature Reserve, so called because it is right on the banks of the River Thames, just near Pinkhill Lock. It was another blustery day. Will this crazy wind ever let up? We followed Hanna in convoy round the edge of the reservoir, which was choppy to say the least, and parked up on the other side where it was thankfully a little calmer, the high banks of the reservoir providing some shelter. Equipped with our tools, gloves and goggles, we made our way onto the spot on the nature reserve where we were to do our work. Hanna told us that the reserve had been formed in 1991, but some aspects had been neglected over the last ten years. The aim...
Read more

Kennington Memorial Field, 29th October 2016

By Andrew -
We have been working at Kennington Memorial Field for a number of years now, clearing scrub from the slopes so that the valley remains an area of grassland and wild flowers. This time Rachel from Oxford Preservation Trust was in charge and led us down to the lower end of the field, where we were to cut back the trees and bushes by several metres and burn the scrub on a bonfire. We were joined by some families with children of varying ages, the youngest only three, who had answered a local appeal for volunteers. We set to work and soon we had a bonfire going. Even the children who were too young to use loppers and saws joined in, carrying branches to the bonfire pile. Despite the drizzly weather they all worked cheerfully. At tea break time we enjoyed some delicious snacks that Rachel had brought and a tin of chocolates supplied by Michele. We found two old birds' nests in the course of the morning and cutting back the scrub revealed a log pile with a rabbit hole under...
Read more

Jarn Mound and Wild Garden, Boars Hill, 12th November 2016

By Andrew -
Image
Four weeks after our last session with the Oxford Preservation Trust at Boars Hill, we returned, albeit at Jarn Mound this time rather than the Elizabeth Daryush Garden; which had been our venue in October. We again met with  Rachel Sanderson of the trust, who along with our leader of the day, James, outlined the tasks for the morning.  Primarily, we were to clear the mound itself of scrub and tree saplings that had taken root there, with the intention of restoring it to its original state.  There were also some flatter areas of the garden that required clearing, for the less intrepid among us. Unfortunately, the day had begun a little on the inclement side.  Indeed as we arrived, the rain fell persisently, making many of us wonder if the session would go ahead at all!  But of course, the Green Gymmers are renowned for working whatever the weather, and the damp conditions did not deter us. A couple of problems were immediately evident due to the rain...
Read more