Jarn Field was a new site for us, situated beyond Jarn Mound and the sunken garden, with The Ridgeway running parallel to the far end.
We made our way to the field, where Rod d'Ayala met us. He explained the tasks, which were to clear a pile of woodchip into the ditch; to scythe some bramble; to cut back low, overhanging branches from the trees between the field and the road, and to uproot small oak saplings, which were popping up around the edges of the field.
It is a popular dog walking area, and passers-by must have thought it odd when we told them what we were doing, as, these days, we are being told to plant trees absolutely everywhere. However, left to itself, the meadow would become oak scrub, then oak woodland.
We set to work, Sally scything, several people raking and barrowing the woodchip into the ditch. Some of us tackled the overhanging branches, while Ursula and I went out into the hot, sunny field, armed with mini mattocks and forks to uproot the sprouting oaks
Dieuwke with the vintage wheelbarrow
was careful to scythe around and also sheep sorrel, another acid loving plant. There were a number of butterflies - Small Heath, Skippers and Painted Lady.
We stopped for our break, and it was very pleasant to sit in the shade.
The shovelling was nearly finished and one of the tasks was to fill in a gap where people had been cutting through from the road, thus encouraging them to use the gate. The branches, oak saplings and cut bramble went into the ditch as well.
It was time to pack up, and Adrian brought his car round to the gate and loaded up from there, so we didn't have to carry the tools back with us. We then made our way across Jarn Field, then home.
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