Jarn Heath, Boars Hill - Saturday, 24 August 2024

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Blog by Sally.  Photos by Henry, Margaret, Michele and Sally

You could be forgiven for thinking you are seeing double as we returned to Jarn Way on 24 August, but this time to focus attention on clearing part of Jarn Heath and along the bridleway that runs between the Heath and Jarn Mound, the latter of which had been the focus of our attention the previous week.  Rod d'Ayala, the consultant ecologist for Oxford Preservation Trust, had asked us to rake and cut back bramble (mainly) which was encroaching onto the pathway and bridleway and also dominating the understorey, preventing other plants from flourishing.  We were also asked to remove a dogwood cultivar - another plant in danger of taking over.  

It's hoped that Jarn Heath will be restored to its former glory.  We know in the glade areas (or rides) where we have worked before in the past couple of years, that this year there were more violets and bluebells than there have been in the recent past - testament to clearing the scrub and allowing light to the ground, and our work this week was another step in achieving this goal.

Faithful followers will know that Abingdon Green Gym is normally disgustingly lucky with the weather, but the Weather Gods had something to prove against us on Saturday! The forecast showed that there was only a 90% chance of rain - and rain it did!  Not the best of starts for the August Bank Holiday weekend!  However, despite the weather, thirteen intrepid Green Gymmers turned out to put their waterproofs firmly to the test.

Firstly, we set up base camp - the tarpaulin being the first thing removed from the car to keep bags and tools dry - by a bench in a clearing in the glade.  We talked through the various tasks to be done so people could had a choice.  The 4 scythers set up their scythes and Margaret and Susan set about cutting bramble from between the trees in the glade area, taking care to avoid cutting down male ferns if they could.  Others grabbed loppers to cut down the dogwood and build up the dead hedge that we had made a few years ago.  The vegetation that had been cut the previous week was packed onto the dead hedge along the fence line, after having cut overgrowing brambles back and dropped the cuttings onto the dead hedge. 

Two scythers ventured onto the adjacent Bridleway to start cutting back vegetation here and improve sight lines for views of the cleared mound.  We had to beware of logs and other hazards and also cut around male ferns.  There was more of a mix of vegetation here with ash saplings, burdock, nettles and pendulous sedge mixed in with the bramble.  We tried to avoid cutting the ash saplings as the tree popper could be used to remove these later.  However, the weather was really not on our side and whenever we thought it might be clearing up, the Weather Gods turned on the taps again!  We therefore had a short break to avoid getting too chilled and agreed to pack up early.  After break, we spent the next 20-30 minutes clearing up.  We left knowing we had done our best and the site was looking much improved in the areas where we had worked.  We will be back in November so we can tackle more bramble and bracken then, but at the time we left the site, we were all focussing on getting home, having a hot shower or bath and being dry!  

Work gets underway raking up the cut material from the previous week

Working out a plan of attack

Susan and Margaret continue scything in the area next to the glade

Clearing the main dogwood patch

In the thick of it!

Kevin having bundles of fun!

Progress being made in the dogwood thicket on the right and in the glade to the left

Helen cutting back the dogwood growing through the dead hedge

Barbara scything along the bridleway - rather an autumnal scene for August

Rakes progress

Tools downed for break 

A very welcome break!

Rhian trampling down the cut vegetation to form a dead hedge

Smiles all round - Susan, Margaret, Helen and Michele - Job Done!

Male ferns bathed in light and a dead hedge along the fence line

The glade - looking a lot clearer now!

One of the cleared areas along the bridleway

The dead hedge


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