Summer Picnic, Jarn Mound and Wild Garden, Boars Hill, 12th August 2017

By Andrew -
Our annual picnic was held at Jarn Mound and Wild Garden, Boars Hill for the second year running.  Around 25 of us including regular Green Gymmers and friends and partners turned up for the occasion.

Carolyn had done a fine job in organising the event and in ensuring that we all brought along a variety of food and drinks for everyone to enjoy. 

The feast was prepared at 11am as we assembled in the gardens, and while a small team laid out the spread, the remainder went off on a short walk, led by James.  We visited a nearby vantage point, the Signal Elm field - another Oxford Preservation Trust site, giving fine views across to Oxford itself.

As we returned, the picnic was ready and we formed an orderly queue before filling our plates with the delicious offerings. After the savoury dishes were finished, desserts were prepared including a cake for Eleanor, who has a landmark birthday at this time.  We sang 'Happy Birthday' both for her and Ursula who also celebrates her birthday now.

Following tea and coffee, we packed up, bellies full and another summer programme at an end.  The new edition of our work schedule is now ready to go and will be uploaded shortly!
-Andrew



The group gather at the picnic spot.

A good turnout!

Lesley helps James get to grip with his map-reading skills!

Heading off for a walk to the Signal Elm.

Almost at the Elm... actually an Oak tree!

Rosie with the four-leaf clover she found!

Taking in the view over Oxford.

A board to assist with the identification of Oxford landmarks in the distance.

Oxford in the distance.

The blackberries in stages of ripening.

A path flanked with Himalayan Balsam!

Getting stuck in to the picnic!

The sun made a brief appearance.

Singing Happy Birthday to Eleanor.

Dessert is served.

Carolyn's amazing Guinness cake!






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