By -

 Publicity meeting with Layla Moran M.P., Ock Valley Walk   -   Thursday 21st May 2026

Blog by Eleanor, photos by Julio and Kevin

This was a special event, not on our usual Green Gym day. We had received an invitation to meet Layla Moran, M.P. for Oxford West and Abingdon, to publicise the launch of the Healthy Ageing Inquiry report. Layla is chair of the Parliamentary Select Committee, which prepared the report.

We decided that our best option was to hold the event at the Town end of the Ock Path, where we could
 finish renewing the woodchip path, a task we had been unable to complete in April due to insufficient woodchip.





View of the northern branch of the Ock



Six Green Gymmers arrived for this event, and we started work shovelling woodchip into the wheelbarrow, pushing it along, tipping it out and raking it, tasks at which we are very skilled.

Ursula and Carolyn with shovels




Ursula and Carolyn loading woodchip



We were joined by Dr Muir Gray, medical adviser for the report, Victoria from BBC radio Oxford and Layla herself with her assistant, Ed.

Victoria interviewing Layla


The Green Gymmers were interviewed, too. We were anxious to emphasise that Green Gym is not just for oldies!

Finally, we had a group photo by what remained of the woodchip heap.

l to r - Lesley, Dr Muir Gray, Carolyn, Eleanor, Kevin, Ursula, Julio and Layla Moran M.P.


It had been a very pleasant morning, helped by the fine weather, and moreover, we had completed a useful task.


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