Abbey Fish Ponds, Saturday 28th of August 2022

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 This week's blog post was written by the cavalier Kevin!: 

Abbey Fish Ponds is one of the GG's local sites, which makes it easy for volunteers to to attend by foot or bike. The nature reserve has three springs rising within its boundary, making it a small oasis for foxes, muntjac deer and the odd water vole (as well as Abingdon Green Gym volunteers). Ponds have been dug to encourage a further mix of animals, although we have since blocked some of them off to spread the flow of spring water over a bigger area, which will help improve the diversity of plants and creatures.

We have been working on and off here for many years doing reed scything/raking, ditch clearing, Himalaya balsam plucking and scrub and tree growth lopping. It was the latter that we set to work clearing the summers growth and more, from the paths that are frequently used by the local residence for dog walking etc.
Adrian had a clear picture of what was needed having done a recce with the Earth Trust site manager the day before. We had two scythers in our team and they set to work on an area next to the path, while two other groups of 3's and 4's spread out along the path to tackle the over grown brambles and the willows the might be in danger of falling onto the path. Being a well-trained and experienced group people seemed to see what was needed and work accordingly! 

What a lovely patch of Abbey Fish Pond! 

Prune-tastic 

The team hard at rest


Mr Toad - poop poop! 

The sharpening of scythes 









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