Blog by Sally. Photos by Eleanor, Kevin, Margaret, Michele and Sally
On another bright sunny morning, 11 Green Gymmers led by Kevin, turned out for our session at not one, but two of Oxford Preservation Trust's ("OPT") sites at Boars Hill - Old Berkeley Golf Course and the adjoining Abraham Wood. Hannah Brockwell, the Green Spaces Manager at OPT, had kindly arranged some permits for us to park at the Peking University HSBC Business School on Berkeley Road, which can get busy with walkers and the verge is badly rutted in places.
We worked under the direction of Rod d'Ayala and were joined by one of the Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire's Flora Guardians, Richard, who monitors the rare ivy-leaved crowfoot ("ILC"), which happens to grow in the flushes on the old golf course site.
Rod briefed us on the various tasks that he wanted us to do. One group worked in Abraham Wood, pulling up small balsam, which is an invasive non-native and is beginning to spread so we need to keep it in check. Susan was asked to scythe in the top of one of the flushes. Simon was asked to dig up a stand of hemlock to prevent that from spreading. Barbara was tasked with scything along the main flush; and Kevin, Richard and Sally were deployed to the eastern flush, where we were not able to get to last year. We were asked to scythe the soft rush and dig up and invert the tussocks to form a series of bunds across the flush. The idea for this is so that they retain water to keep the area muddy, which provides the right conditions for the diminutive ILC.
Whilst working, we spotted some house martins flying about and we heard and saw a skylark and wondered if it was nesting.
Small Balsam - an invasive non-native plant
Susan gets started in the top end of the main flush. The large mass of white flowers is hemlock
Kevin and Richard talk tactics at the eastern flush
Margaret and Joan pulling small balsam
Richard and Kevin start digging out rush in the eastern runnel. The last time we worked here, the herd of cattle was rather inquisitive and wanted to investigate what we'd been up to. It was good to be able to return before the cattle are moved to this field so we could work undisturbed. It is a favoured watering hole for the cattle and the flush was deep in places - the water went over the top of Richard's wellingtons. The ground was pretty uneven and it was easy to get stuck in the mud as Sally found to her cost after break.
The field is well used by local residents and a number of dog walkers. Concerned for the safety of a possible skylark's nest, Kevin spoke to one gentleman who had three large dogs off the lead so that he was made aware and could control his dogs.
It was soon time for a welcome break as it was thirsty work and we all made our way to our usual spot near the entrance to Abraham's Wood and the main flush. Whilst walking across the field, we spotted this OPT notice informing people of the re-wetting project taking place at the lower end:
A welcome break in the sunshine - making the most of the free vitamin D on offer
After break, Barbara was asked to scythe the bramble patch near the tree where we had break to stop it from encroaching into the flush, Susan joined the small balsam pullers and the rest of us continued what we'd been doing before.
Michele with a haul of small balsam. This was put into a heap
Richard using a mattock to dig up the cut rush tussocks as Kevin pitchforks the cut material and takes it to an existing heap in the hedge
Bund-forming in progress. By inverting the rush tussocks, they should not grow back
Richard mattocks out a tussock as Sally scythes the rush. At the lower end of the flush, we had to be careful not to cut any of the watercress in flower
Richard and Kevin inverting rush tussocks to form a bund
The flush after our efforts
Look - no hemlock!
We enjoyed a good morning's work and at the end of the session made our way back to base to collect up our tools and return home. We look forward to seeing how the ivy-leaved crowfoot responds and resolved to arrange some ad-hoc evening sessions to pull more small balsam in the wood. It is an annual plant so it's important to pull it before it sets seed. We thanked Rod for his time and guidance. We always enjoy coming to the OPT Boars Hill sites.
A field of gold - the buttercups were resplendent
Turkey tail fungus
Wild rose
Comments
Post a Comment