Abingdon Green Gym Blog

Blog by Eleanor.  Photos by Julio and Sally It was yet another warm, sunny Saturday when we met in the car park of Dry Sandford Pit, a former sand quarry, which is managed by BBOWT. A marsh helleborine with its seed pods A reed gall, often called a cigar gall because of the way the leaves are wrapped around the egg Roger, who was leader, briefed us on the three separate tasks we had been asked to do. We also welcomed a new volunteer, Fei. One task was to clear bramble and sprouting sycamore in the area by the entrance gate.  James, Ursula, Carol and Fei chose the task by the gate. Working by the gate T he main one, which most people chose to do, was to scythe and rake up the reeds on the fen and remove any sprouting alder trees. The fen Sally scything and Kevin removing the cut reed Half way there The third task was to clear vegetation from in front of the cliff faces. The sandy cliff faces contain many fossils, dating from the time when this area was a warm, shallow sea. Now,...

  Blog by Eleanor, photos by Julio, Sally and Eleanor It was another dry and sunny day when we met for our session at Boundary House Fen, part of Frilford Golf course.  There were eleven of us, with Kevin as leader.  Rod d'Ayala, who is in charge of the fen work, could not be there, but Judy Webb was, with her insect catching net, ready to identify all the invertebrates she could find. Judy We made our way alongside the golf course down to the fen. The grass looked very brown after six rainless weeks, apart from patches of green where golfers tee off. Apparently these have to be kept green. Kevin showed us the areas that needed to be scythed and raked, so the work began Kevin with a pitchfork full of cut vegetation Margaret makes a start scything Rhian next to the heap Rosie scything and Carolyn raking  Jim Rhian, Simon (if you can spot him!) and Margaret raking and scything  Another task was to uproot creeping thistles on the slope leading down to the fen and I...