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

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 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.


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