Blog by Eleanor for Saturday 11th July - Ock Tesco end

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 This session saw one of our rare visits to the Tesco end of the Ock Path, reminding us that we are still ABINGDON Green Gym.

There were twelve volunteers, including a newcomer, Chris, who had cycled all the way from Kennington. 

Our main task was to pull up Himalayan Balsam, but, as usual in this area, there was plenty of litter to be picked up as well.

Most of the balsam was by the path leading West to New Cut Mill, and that's where most of the group went, either into the woods on the left or into the ditch on the right, while Adrian went into the river to the bit by the small weir, fenced off by the Environment Agency, where the balsam is hard to get at, and where some people enjoy the challenge of throwing their cans and bottles, to preserve them for future generations.
On the hunt for Himalayan Balsam and litter
Dieuwke and newcomer Chris
Joan
Susan and Rhian
I had spotted a smaller patch of balsam  at the other end of the path, just before the Ock Meadow. It was surrounded by nettles, so Sally had brought her scythe to clear the so we could get at the balsam. 
I accompanied her, armed with bags and litter picking stick to clear the numerous cans, bottles and other rubbish. 
Lesley, meanwhile volunteered to litter pick on the path to New Cut Mill.


At 11 a.m. we stopped for our break. 
There hadn't been much litter on the western path, but there was an old, unrideable discarded bicycle, a broken spade and a few other bits of fly tipping.
After the break there was still a lot more Himalayan Balsam to pull up. Adrian went to the Ock Meadow end, while the others continued in the ditch and the woods.
Lesley decided to check for litter by the road leading to Tesco and found quite a lot of litter to collect there.
Picture of Himalayan Balsam
The cleared area after
Eleanor with the rubbish
At 12.30 it was time to finish, so we made our way back to the car park, putting the bags and fly tipping to be collected by the council on Monday. 
Some areas are now clear of Himalayan Balsam, which is encouraging. One Summer we will get to the opposite bank of the Ock, still tantalisingly lined with it.

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