Abingdon Green Gym Blog

 Blog by Eleanor, photos by Julio and David We were back after our Easter Saturday break, this time at Boundary House Fen, with Adrian as leader. It was a beautiful sunny day as we assembled for Rod d'Ayala to give us our briefing. There was the usual scything and raking up of the reeds and rushes, but an alternative task was to dig up hemlock. We had done this at previous sessions and had learnt to distinguish it from other members of the carrot family, such as cow parsley, and, of course, carrots. The stems of hemlock have purple splodges. On no account should you eat this plant! Pre task briefing The fen before Rhian digging up hemlock Lesley with hemlock On the fen, the scythers set to work scything in two different areas. Scythers get stuck in. Jim scything near a tempting tree swing Then it was time for the rakers and carriers (the infantry) to come in, Sadly we have no photos, but I can assure you we worked very hard and avoided being cut off at the ankles by the scythers. T...

 Blog by Eleanor, photos by Julio and Eleanor Nineteen volunteers assembled for our annual task of renewing the woodchip path on the Ock River Walk. It was a warm, sunny day, maybe the last for a while. Other tasks were tidying up the dead wood and fallen branches, removing tree guards where necessary and, of course, litter picking. The Ock Valley Walk We proceeded to our usual spot for our base camp next to the wood chip path by the northern branch of the Ock. Pre task briefing There was a lot of woodchip left by the Council contractors, but spread around rather than in heaps, so that meant extra work for the shovellers. The path before   Wheelbarrow on the woodchip We had three wheelbarrows, so the shovellers and rakers started at both ends of the path, hoping to meet in the middle. Rhian and Carol start raking Barbara and Sally litter picking At first, it didn't look as if there was too much litter, but then we keep coming across more. Rebecca thought there wasn't much, but...

Blog by Sally, photos by Julio and Sally  On another glorious spring day, we returned to Boars Hill, but this time to another site owned by Oxford Preservation Trust, Matthew Arnold Field, on Saturday, 5 April.  17 Green Gymmers were joined by consultant ecologist, Rod d'Ayala and another two volunteers from OPT.  It is always good to be joined by local residents.  Rod gave instructions to the group, led by Eleanor, to dig out Alexanders, a rather invasive plant which crowds out other native species, remove barbed wire from the fence which is due to be replaced and to scythe nettles, brambles and bracken to prevent them from encroaching on the grassland.  Any small trees we found could then be 'popped' by pulling them out, root and all, with the aid of a tree popper.  The cut material would then be used to form a dead hedge along the fence line. Rod giving instructions to the group as to what tasks needed to be done The area of bramble, nettles and Alexande...

 Blog by Eleanor, photos by Julio It was a bright, sunny morning, when twelve of us met in the entrance to Lashford Lane Fen, one of a group of Oxfordshire fens where we work. Interpretation board at the entrance Our instructions were to make our way to the main fen area, scythe and rake up some of the reed and cut back trees and shrubs on the far side to stop them from encroaching on the fen. Team briefing by Kevin Carrying our tools, we set off on the long walk to the fen. The ground was remarkably dry, with only one muddy patch, as there has been very little rain in March this year. At last we arrived at the fen, set up camp and made our way to the other side of the fen. The main work area (and scythe blade) There was also some work to be done, cutting back overhanging branches by the kissing gate leading to the fen. Roger and I volunteered to do that. Before After The others set to work on the fen and the trees on the other side of the runnel. it wasn't long before people were ...