Ock Path, Town End - Saturday 21st June 2025

By -

 Blog and photos by Eleanor

Only nine volunteers attended the session on this Summer Solstice day. Maybe everyone else had joined the Druids, hippies and alternative folk at Stonehenge - who knows? There had been a flurry of rain after the heatwave, but it was still very warm and humid.

Our main tasks were to cut back the vegetation, mainly nettles, encroaching on the woodchip path, clear round the young trees and, as usual in this area, pick up litter. A few people volunteered for this latter task. A slight setback was when we found that the resident mice in Sally's garage had chewed holes in the blue rubbish bags. Carol very practically knotted the ends, so we could still use them.

The others set to work cutting back the vegetation.

Cutting back along the path




Kevin cut back willow overhanging the main path, which could get in the way of cyclists or tall walkers. 

 
Kevin with an armful of willow.



At 11 o'clock we reassembled for our tea break. the litter pickers returned with their haul - a large number of cans and bottles as well as general rubbish. There is no doubt more concealed in the undergrowth at this time of year.

A kind passer by offered to take a photo of the group at tea break.

The assembled company



After a prolonged break, we decided to finish, as there wasn't any more that needed doing, so we made our way back with the tools.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day, 29th March 2014

By Andrew -
Image
This was the bi-annual Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day, held at the Guildhall in the town centre.  It provides us along with the many other groups and organisations in Abingdon with the chance to have a stall and demonstrate to those attending what we get up to.  Also, it is a good opportunity to attract new members. Dieuwke was in charge of organising the stall this year.  We were placed opposite the Abingdon Naturalists Society who we regularly hold joint sessions with, but there were many other groups present whose activities do not overlap. We received much interest, with several people registering interest.  We look forward to welcoming new members over the coming weeks. -Andrew Dieuwke, Kevin and Carolyn at the Green Gym stall There was much interest in our activities during the day Information on our activities and marmalade for sale! Poster outside the Guildhall Abingdon Guildhall
Read more

Jarn Mound and Wild Garden, Boars Hill, 12th November 2016

By Andrew -
Image
Four weeks after our last session with the Oxford Preservation Trust at Boars Hill, we returned, albeit at Jarn Mound this time rather than the Elizabeth Daryush Garden; which had been our venue in October. We again met with  Rachel Sanderson of the trust, who along with our leader of the day, James, outlined the tasks for the morning.  Primarily, we were to clear the mound itself of scrub and tree saplings that had taken root there, with the intention of restoring it to its original state.  There were also some flatter areas of the garden that required clearing, for the less intrepid among us. Unfortunately, the day had begun a little on the inclement side.  Indeed as we arrived, the rain fell persisently, making many of us wonder if the session would go ahead at all!  But of course, the Green Gymmers are renowned for working whatever the weather, and the damp conditions did not deter us. A couple of problems were immediately evident due to the rain...
Read more