Abingdon Green Gym Blog

This was our first visit of the year to Frilford Heath Golf Club - to continue the maintenance tasks at Boundary House Fen.  It was another frosty start, though thankfully no snowfall this week as we assembled in the Golf club car park - almost 20 strong.  An impressive turn-out.  Once all present and correct, we drove around to the groundsman's area just along the road and unpacked the tools and tea kit, ready for our trek across the fairways to the fen itself. It was approaching 10 o'clock before we were in a position to commence operations, with Alison Muldal from Natural England, along with Judy Webb outlining our jobs for the morning.  The reeds at the fen had once again been cut by the golf course staff and it was a matter of raking them up and transporting and piling up these cuttings along the edge of the site, away from the delicate wetland habitat.  At the same time, another group were tasked with removing some small trees and bushes along the opposi...

Some minor amendments have been made to the current Green Gym programme.  There are no alterations to where we are going, just some changes to who is leading. This affects four sessions.  The revised programme can be seen below, or for a pdf version, click HERE (opens in new window).

This was our first outdoor session of the year, following-on from the AGM on the previous Saturday.  A group of 16 of us met at Stonehill House, between Abingdon and Drayton.   It was a relief that it had stoppped snowing, with some of us wondering if our activities might be cancelled due to the wintery conditions.  Instead, we were keen to get going since temperatures were a little on the cold side! We assembled in the courtyard outside the house itself, where we were met with site supervisor, Sophie who instructed us on the tasks to be done.  It was a pleasure to welcome another new member, Heidi, to the group, joining us for the first time. Stonehill House is privately-owned, but has community facilities including a recently-planted woodland and gardens, and also runs exhibitions and courses on a variety of topics.  Our work there is to assist in maintaining the community woods and the morning involved clearing grass and weed growth around the young sapli...

The Abingdon Green Gym's first activity of 2015 was the AGM.  This was once again held at James and Ursula's house.  The majority of our regular members were in attendance, with only a handful of apologies to announce. Chaired by James, the meeting was was thorough, and included a review of the past year's activities, a financial report from our treasurer, Sally, and our plans for the year ahead.   We have done well in the past 12 months in attracting new members and look forward to building upon our recent successes.  Thus there were discussions on additional requirements for tools and first aid kit supplies as well as funding ideas. We rattled through the agenda at a good pace with some great input from those present.  We were finished after two hours, and so onto the main event - the buffet lunch!  Food had been contributed from all present and a wonderful spread it was too.  Once again, Eleanor's legendary meringues were star of the show, wit...

The new winter 2015 Abingdon Green Gym programme has just been published (below).  For a higher-resolution pdf version, click HERE Prior to commencing the work sessions for the year, the AGM is to be held this coming Saturday, 10th January at James and Ursula's house.  Details are as per the previous programme  HERE

This was our final outing of the year and our second consecutive work party at Cothill Fen.  Once again, we were joined by Judy Webb from Natural England, who was directing our activities at the site. Fifteen-strong, we met in the car park and unloaded the tools before beginning the fairly lengthy trek along the path to the Fen itself.  Upon arrival, Judy set out the morning's tasks, which were primarily to continue thinning the trees that have been encroaching upon the edges of the wetland habitat and also to add to the log path at the around the edge of the site perimeter - using the trunks of some of the felled trees. Prior to commencing, Green Gym session leader Margaret gave a short presentation on the correct use of tools - namely loppers and saws.  This was mainly for the benefit of our new members, but served as a good refresher for the rest of us. We set to work and despite the cold and frosty start to the morning, we soon warmed up.  Many small trees ...