Boundary House Fen - Saturday, 23 December 2023

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Blog post by Sally, Photos by Sally and JimB 

For our penultimate session of 2023, we returned to Boundary House Fen on Frilford Heath Golf Course SSSI to continue with the cut and rake on 23 December and we had a glorious morning for it with plenty of sunshine and clear blue skies. Four of us met in the greenkeepers' compound and made our way to the Fen where we were met by Rod d'Ayala and then later joined by Barbara, who had cycled from Abingdon. Rod gave us our instructions. 

Alison and Sally were asked to clear the area to the left hand side of the stream (which is acting as a ditch, draining the fen) and were later joined by Barbara, whilst Jim was asked to cut the area of tall reed that was being overtaken by bramble around the perimeter next to the Boundary House itself. We had to take care to avoid cutting a tussock-forming grass, identified by its keel where the leaves emerge from their stem. These tussocks create microhabitats for small invertebrates and plants. Rod and Graham set about raking up the arising from our last visit here and removed the cut reed to existing piles off the main fen area. This helps prevent the build up of nutrients and also allows light to the surface - vital for germination of precious fenland plant seeds.

It was very mild for this time of year, although there was a slight edge to the breeze, and layers soon started getting peeled off! It was lovely to see lichens, mosses and fungi growing on tree stumps looking like miniature rainforests. We also spotted a couple of gorgeous, shiny rove beetles sporting orange and blue/black colours (we think Paederus species) - rather quick moving foraging for food. If anyone can identify any of the species do please let us know! The stumps made for some tricky scything - some are notorious trip hazards and also risk damage being caused to scythe blades or them getting stuck. 

We enjoyed a welcome break with a special treat of chocolate mini rolls - well, 'tis the season - although a brimstone butterfly must have thought spring had come early as it foraged for nectar on one of the ivy clad trees! It was then back to work continuing clearing along the ditch and the main areas on both sides of it. It was lovely to so many dead spikes of common spotted orchids with their empty seed pods - hopefully, our efforts in cutting and raking the taller, dense vegetation will provide adequate light for their seeds to germinate, along with many other rare species. Rod then started to work along the ditch packing in the newly cut reeds/rush/sedge, which will break down over time to form a peat later at the bottom of the ditch, encouraging the spring water to flow over the fen area to keep it wet, thus creating favourable conditions for the special alkaline flora and fauna to flourish as well as locking in carbon. Oxfordshire is one of the few counties in the country where alkaline (or calcareous) fens exist as the spring water that feeds/creates the fen percolates through a layer of chalk, resulting is slightly less acidic conditions favoured by a whole suite of specialist flora and fauna and it is a pleasure to be involved in helping preserve this extremely rare habitat. 

We just about reached the fairway on the other side of the fen so Rod had a clear sight of the ditch by the time came for us to pack up and go home, while Rod enjoyed a bit of a break before setting about raking more of the cut material.  We look forward to visiting the site again to continue our progress.

Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas!

Boundary House Fen before we started 

Showing the uncut area of reed near the spring that feeds the fen

Alison cuts a swathe

Turkey tail fungus - rather apt for the season!

Graham and Rod raking up the old cut reed

Barbara and Alison scything away

Graham and Rod having heaps of fun as Jim makes progress scything along the fen boundary

Young bracket fungus 

In lieu of scarlet elf cups, we did find these little beauties - only a few millimetres high

One of the rove beetles we spotted of the Paederus genus (we think!)

A welcome break!

Candle-snuff fungus (photo by JimB)

Rod raking into the ditch, as Barbara and Alison continue cutting a swathe

Looking back along the ditch

After our efforts

The spring area as we left it




 

Season's greetings one and all!

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