Old Berkeley Golf Course - Saturday, 23rd March 2024

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Blog by Sally.  Photos by Eleanor, Margaret and Sally

On Saturday, 23 March, 13 Green Gymmers went to Old Berkeley Golf Course, Boars Hill, which is a site owned and managed by Oxford Preservation Trust, adjacent to Abraham Wood.  We were joined by Peter, one of the OPT volunteers who had been helping on their mid-week task who wanted to finish laying a timber path at the bottom gate to Abraham Wood as it was very muddy.  Our main task was to do a spring cut of the rush which is spreading around the flush that runs through the field, taking up water and space, crowding out the diminutive "ivy-leaved crowfoot", which is extremely rare in Oxfordshire.  Hannah from OPT had also asked us to cut back a patch of scrub by the fence to Abraham Wood in preparation for the family Easter hunt they have planned for next weekend.

We had to watch our step as the field is used by a number of dog walkers some of whom unfortunately fail to clear up after their pooches.  We set up camp in our usual place by a clump of trees on the slope near to where we would be working.  

We split into three groups.  Peter, Kevin and Graham, armed with bowsaws, set off to finish the timber path, whilst Barbara, Eleanor and Lesley started cutting back the bramble patch. Eleanor spotted a couple of ladybirds sheltering on a leaf. 

Jim, Margaret, Roger, Rosie and Sally started scything the rush as Carolyn, Philip and Susan raked up the cut material.  With 5 scythers, we made good progress starting in the middle section and working our way down the slope.  We were very glad to see that there were some patches of the ivy-leaved crowfoot growing well.  We also found an old field vole's nest and larder.  

It was soon time for tea and rather fortuitously for the ginger nut enthusiasts, Eleanor had baked some delicious ginger biscuits as, calamitously the biscuit barrel was completely devoid of ginger nuts, a Green Gym staple, thereby averting an almost-certain mutiny.  [Post session note for ginger nut lovers:  there is now a pack in the biscuit tin for next time!]  A couple of ravens flew overhead with their distinctive call, which was super to see.

A few people left at break time, so when we resumed, under a threatening sky, Peter and Graham went to complete the timber path and then help cut back the bramble patch together with Roger with a scythe, Eleanor, Barbara and Lesley, whilst Jim and Rosie set about raking the bottom part of the flush and Margaret and Sally started to cut the lower part of the upper flush.  Luckily, the darkened skies only proffered a light shower.  With our eyes on the clock and mindful that we needed to rake up what we had cut, we soon switched to raking to clear the site.  

Somehow, we managed to pack tools up at the same time as finishing a tidy up from under the bramble patch, including taking away a bag of litter we had collected for disposing of properly.  As we were tidying up Lesley found a common toad which she put in a safe place where it was unlikely to be disturbed. We came away feeling as though we had done another good morning's work and look forward to seeing the ivy-leaved crowfoot flourish.  We were also rather thankful that the showers forecast were light and not prolonged.

Lesley, Barbara and Eleanor taking on the bramble patch

Barbara in the thick of it

Great progress made before break time

Spot the ladybirds

Starting work on the flush

It seems a long way to go ...

Roger scything the rush

Margaret and Jim in action

Spotted ... the ivy-leaved crowfoot ...

.. and here is the plant in question!

One section of the flush after the cut and rake

Susan with a forkful

A field vole's larder

Carolyn and Philip showing the heap of cut material

Break time!

The middle and lower sections of the flush after the cut and rake - luckily the threatened showers did not amount to much

Jim and Rosie raking up ...

... and bagging up

Margaret cutting the lower section of the upper flush

Finishing the bramble cut

Graham showing the log path that he helped to lay

A lucky toad!

Yuk!  Look what we found ...

The bramble bashers

Blue skies as we left






















































































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