Two Pines Fen, Frilford Heath Golf Course - Monday, 10th August 2026

Blog and Photos by Sally

On a sunny Monday morning, 7 Green Gymmers and friends went to Frilford Heath Golf Course to remove invasive scrub and start the autumn cut and rake of the Green Course side of Two Pines Fen, which is bounded by two golf courses and we can only work on it safely during the week when one of the golf courses is closed for maintenance.  On this occasion, although the Green Course was scheduled for maintenance that week, because of the dry weather this did not happen as they need a good spell of rain for the maintenance, so the Green 4th hole was closed to enable us to work safely without fear of being hit by golf balls.

We met Jamie, the Sustainability Officer for the Golf Course, in the Green Keepers' compound car park.  His is a newly created post.  Ecologist, Dr Judy Webb, also joined us and we met Alan from Freshwater Habitats Trust, who is an invertebrate specialist.  Judy had collected some Flecked General Soldierfly larvae for Alan to take away and raise in his new vivarium.  The Flecked Generals are the most common of the soldierflies and Alan was keen to test his new "viv" on these, before trying to raise some of the rarer soldierflies which favour calcareous fens, such as Two Pines Fen.  Sadly, these species are very vulnerable as these fens are a rare habitat.

Jamie offered to take many of our tools down to the site on his buggy, which was quite a luxury for us!  We started to work on the areas of the fen nearest the track and soon amassed quite a collection of golf balls some of which were picked up by passing golfers, who are always grateful, before one of the Green Keepers passed by on a buggy and managed to collect the vast majority.  It was hard work cutting the Meadowsweet, which had quite woody stems.

Judy was keen to record as many of the fen plants as possible  before the cut and rake got underway on the main area of fen, including the exquisitely beautiful Grass of Parnassus.  Unfortunately, numbers of this seemed to be down this year possibly because it has been so unseasonably hot this summer and it might also have been too early in the season for them.

Jamie was keen to get involved and, after he had visited Boundary House Fen, the bigger sister to Two Pines Fen where consultant ecologist, Rod d'Ayala, was working that day, he returned with one of the Golf Course's mowing machines to mow the area in front of the Fen.  We marked a "stop" line so that he avoided cutting the Grass of Parnassus in flower - Judy and Rod were delighted to see it flowering in this area.

Simon mattocked out willow and birch scrub to prevent that from spreading onto the main fen area, as this would dry out the fen and also shade more delicate plants, including the dimunitive bog pimpernel, which charmingly threads its way under and through plants and has pretty, tiny flowers in the spring.  We came across quite a lot of this as we started cutting the grass/reed area in front of the stream.

We took regular hydration breaks and our welcome customary tea break and lunch break.  Then it was all hands on deck to finish raking to leave the site clear.  We look forward to returning in September to start on the Red Course side and hopefully, another day or two to finish where we left off on the Green Course side.

The larvae of the Flecked General Soldierfly for Alan to raise in his new vivarium.  We wish him (and them) every success in this as hopefully, if this experiment goes well, Alan will be able to raise some of the rarer soldierflies to ensure their survival in the future.  The larvae breathe through an aspiration hole at the end of a little tube at their rear end.

Two Pines Fen - an oasis of green amidst the parched fairways due to the drought

Jim and Adrian scything - mainly the fibrous Meadowsweet

Two Pines Fen

After Judy had recorded the plants, we started the cut and rake of the main fen area, working on both sides of the stream.  You can see where Jamie was able to cut with the mower.  Last year, this area was a quaking bog, so it shows the impact of the drought.

Jim, Adrian and Barbara cutting the tall reed, which will allow light and air for the smaller plants to thrive.

Two Pines Fen after the cut and rake.  We still have some work to do next time!

The area of Meadowsweet which had been cut and following Simon's hard work removing scrub

Jamie and Judy on site after our work

We found this nest in the reed - possibly a reed warbler's or a sedge warbler's.  It is always a marvel how these birds manage to grab a few reeds together with their claws and then weave a nest around them.

Devil's bit scabious coming into flower.  We tried to leave as much of this standing as we could as it is a wonderful flower for pollinators.  When we return later in the autumn, we will cut this area and spread the seeds.

There were still a few common cotton grass in flower!  We love the cotton wool fluffy flower heads!

Sadly, this is not as common as it once was - mainly because of loss of habitat through drainage.  It is lovely to see it thriving here.

The Grass of Parnassus - not a grass at all!  This is an ice age relict and the county flower of Cumbria.  It is at its southernmost reaches here in Oxfordshire.  Aren't we lucky to have them?