Hinksey Heights Nature Reserve, Saturday 29th of October 2022

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This week's blog post was written by AGG Chair, Eleanor D.!: 

Once again we were at Hinksey Heights Nature Reserve, this time working in a completely different area from last. John Brimble, the owner, showed us two places next to the approach road to the golf course, where he wanted the brambles and some willow trees cut right back. He was planning to use the cut material to fill in some gaps in the hedge where people were cutting through from the footpath.

    We split into two groups to tackle the upper and lower areas. The brambles in the upper patch were very thick and we realised the scythes and slashers would be needed as well as loppers. We were entertained during this task by two sheepdogs being trained to round up sheep on the other side of the fence.

    After the break, during which we discovered that the tarpaulin that people were sitting on was no longer very waterproof, most of us went down to the lower area leaving Adrian to finish off the brambles.


    By this time the sun had come out and the temperature, at 20 degrees, was remarkably high for the end of October. The side of the road where we were working was closed off as there were piles of branches and brambles on it. John drove back and forth with his trailer and we loaded it up. At last it was time to stop cutting and finish clearing. We did our best to clear the road, but how we wished we had brought a broom! However, we were pleased with what just ten of us had achieved as we made our way back to the car park.


These brambles are no match for a good hat


Adrian: a man at home with a scythe 

Adrian's nest

Team work to get those high up branches!

John Brimble with the John Brambles 

Beautiful Hinksey Heights







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